Tourism is one of Spain’s main engines of job creation and wealth, and aviation is a key player in generating prosperity in the communities where it operates.
The international consulting firm PwC conducted a study on the Iberia Group’s activity and its impact on Spain’s economy and employment.
In 2024, the airline’s corporate contribution was €4.388 billion to Spain’s GDP and 34,482 full-time jobs.
€8 billion and 143,000 jobs
In 2024, 31.7 million engers flew with the Iberia Group, including 8.1 million tourists arriving in Spain—5.8 million of them international, mainly from the United States, , Italy, , the United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia. The spending by these tourists contributed €8.839 billion to Spain’s GDP and 142,987 full-time jobs, primarily in hospitality, retail, and cultural and leisure activities.
In total, Iberia’s activity generated €13.227 billion in GDP in Spain, representing 0.87% of the national GDP and more than 177,469 jobs, or 0.9% of national employment, as confirmed by the PwC report.
This figure was obtained using the Social ing Matrix (SAM) methodology, based on the Input-Output model, which quantifies the direct, indirect, and induced impacts generated by the company’s activity and the tourists it transports. In other words, the airline contributes to the economy through its own operations and by facilitating the arrival of engers who generate added value through spending on accommodation, transport, hospitality, and leisure, among others.
Compared to 2019, when PwC conducted its first report, the Iberia Group has increased its total GDP impact by €3.921 billion and its employment impact by 13,263 full-time jobs.
“These figures show the aviation sector’s contribution to society, and particularly Iberia’s, which brings our purpose to life: generating prosperity by connecting people with the world,” explains Diego Fernández, Strategy, Transformation, and Sustainability Director at Iberia.
Generating prosperity by connecting people with the world
Iberia is a company committed to social progress and positive social impact in the communities where it operates. Its goal is to generate prosperity by connecting people with the world, and to measure this impact, PwC used the theory of change.
Connectivity, both international and domestic, is a key element for society. The Latin American community is the second-largest foreign population group in Spain, after Europeans, ing for 28% of the total.
As a result, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina are Iberia’s top three markets in of enger volume, with three daily flights between these capitals and Madrid.
The Iberia Group is also one of the main promoters of national territorial cohesion, especially in connecting the mainland with the islands, as island routes for 29% of the Iberia Group’s domestic routes.
With the same goal of generating prosperity, the airline currently collaborates with around 20 non-profit organizations on projects focused on child health, education, disability, refugees, at-risk groups, and humanitarian emergency aid. The Iberia Group also offers 100% of its flights free of charge to the National Transplant Organization (ONT) for organ transport.
“At Iberia, we believe flying goes beyond connecting destinations: it’s about connecting people and creating opportunities. That’s why we work with around 20 organizations to projects that improve the lives of those most in need. From child health to the inclusion of vulnerable groups, we strive to ensure our activity has a positive social impact wherever we operate,” says Sonia Sánchez, Communications, Institutional Relations, and Social Impact Director at Iberia.
