Iberia Pays Tribute to Spain's First Woman Pilot

​In early October 1928, María Bernaldo de Quirós became the first woman in Spain to obtain a pilot’s license. Her superlative stunt flying skills earned her the nickname “Miss Golondrina” [“swallow”]. In her De Havilland DH60 she took hundreds of her countrymen into the sky for the first time, and she ended her career as a flying instructor.

Her name is now inscribed on the fuselage of Iberia’s newest A320neo, the airline’s tribute to a woman who wanted “to fly with her own wings” and to prove that “woman are good for more than embroidery”. 

A320neo: Iberia’s most technologically advanced, quiet, and efficient short- and medium-haul aircraft

Aviation history is reflected in the naming of the A320neo fleet. Other units have been named for the pioneering aviatrix Amelia Earhart, for the Patrulla Águila   [“Eagle Patrol”] --the Spanish Air Force’s aerobatic demonstration team-- and for Getafe, the Madrid suburb known as the birthplace of Spanish aviation.

The Airbus A320neo is Iberia’s most technologically advanced, quiet, and efficient short- and medium-haul aircraft. Powered by Leap-1ª CFM engines, it is 50% quieter than its predecessor, emits 5,000 tonnes less CO2 per year, and 50% less NOx.

María Bernaldo de Quirós was a pioneering figure in Spanish aviation, a bold and determined woman who was far ahead of her time. Iberia tribute also aims to highlight her figure as a model for young women considering an aeronautic career.

In 2017 Iberia launched its Diversity Plan to actively promote women at all levels and in all areas of the company, and in all professions in the airline industry.