Business · Companies · 4 hrs ago
Iberia marks 80 years of cabin crew on its transatlantic flights
Iberia is marking 80 years of cabin crew service in Spain, dating from its first commercial transatlantic flight between Madrid and Buenos Aires in 1946.
Four attendants served passengers on that flight, beginning a profession whose roles and official title have changed over time.
Veteran crew members say the work has shifted from a stronger focus on passenger service to much more intensive preparation for emergencies, medical care and flight safety.
Iberia now has 4,062 cabin crew members, about two-thirds of them women.
Carolina Viñe is preparing for her final flight to Tokyo after working for the airline since 1985, while Marta Padreny retired after a final flight to New York.
Padreny says safety and human contact remain central to the job, which she believes cannot be replaced by artificial intelligence.
Iberia is marking 80 years since four flight attendants first served passengers on its Madrid-to-Buenos Aires commercial transatlantic flight.
The flight took place in 1946, and the airline says it was the first time four flight attendants served passengers on a flight in Spain.
Cabin crew member Carolina Viñe, who joined Iberia in 1985, says the job has changed, with greater emphasis on safety and emergency preparation.
Marta Padreny, an Iberia cabin crew member since 1986, says passenger safety and human contact remain central to the work.
Iberia has 4,062 cabin crew members, of whom 67% are women and 33% are men.
- Who
- Iberia and its cabin crew, including Carolina Viñe and Marta Padreny.
- What
- Iberia is marking 80 years since four flight attendants first served passengers on its Madrid-to-Buenos Aires commercial transatlantic flight.
- When
- The flight took place in 1946; the 80th anniversary is in 2026.
- Where
- On a flight from Madrid to Buenos Aires.
- Why
- To mark 80 years since cabin crew first served passengers on an Iberia commercial transatlantic flight.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Iberia operated its first commercial transatlantic flight between Madrid and Buenos Aires, with four flight attendants serving passengers.
Carolina Viñe joined Iberia as cabin crew.
Marta Padreny joined Iberia as cabin crew.
Iberia marked 80 years since the 1946 flight.
- First transatlantic flight
- Madrid to Buenos Aires
- Year of flight
- 1946
- Cabin crew members at the time
- Four
- Iberia cabin crew total
- 4,062
- Women among Iberia cabin crew
- 67% (around 2,735)
- Men among Iberia cabin crew
- 33% (1,327)
What people are saying
Before, it was more about service, but now you have to go over everything repeatedly: the emergencies that can happen on a plane, what to do in case of one, the fire extinguishers you carry
That could never have happened to me in an office; it was a gift of this profession
From that moment I wanted to be an Iberia flight attendant; I didn't want to be one for any other airline
In the very definition, it says that you are there for people's safety.