Iberia Plans Special Eclipse Flight to Chase Totality on Aug. 12

Iberia is planning a special charter flight Aug. 12 to observe the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912. The operation, designated flight IB1473 — a nod to the birth year of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus — will depart Madrid-Barajas Airport and intercept the eclipse path over northern Spain, targeting the Palencia region during the brief window of totality, expected near 8:29 p.m. local time.

The aircraft, an Airbus A321XLR, will cruise at approximately 10,000 meters (33,000 feet) to maximize visibility by flying above cloud cover and atmospheric distortion. The event will be broadcast live on Iberia's social media channels via onboard Starlink satellite connectivity, giving viewers on the ground a front-row seat to the celestial spectacle.

Scientific Collaboration

The flight will carry researchers from the Shelios project, led by astronomer Miquel Serra-Ricart of the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. The scientific team plans to study the solar corona — normally obscured by the Sun's overwhelming brightness — and to track the apparent positions of Venus, Mercury and several stars that become visible during totality. The mission underscores growing interest in using commercial aviation infrastructure to support opportunistic astronomical research.