Iberojet to Test Boeing 737-8 on 9 Hour Long-Haul Flights to Punta Cana
Spanish-Portuguese leisure charter carrier Iberojet, known for operating two weekly flights between Madrid (MAD), Spain, and Punta Cana (PUJ) in the Dominican Republic, typically uses Airbus A330-300s, with occasional substitutions by the A330-900. These flights from Madrid usually have an air time of just over 8 hours and 40 minutes, while the return leg from Punta Cana takes about 7 hours and 15 minutes due to favorable tailwinds.
However, facing speculated lower demand, Iberojet plans to replace their A330s with a Boeing 737 MAX 8 for two specific days in April 2025. As first noted in filings on the Official Airline Guide (OAG), the schedule for April 8 and 22 will be as follows:
- Flight E9801: Departs Madrid at 4:00 p.m., arriving in Punta Cana at 6:55 p.m. local time, with a block time of 8 hours and 55 minutes.
- Flight E9802: Leaves Punta Cana at 9:25 p.m., arriving in Madrid at 11:45 a.m. the next day, with a block time of 8 hours and 20 minutes.
While the return flight to Madrid aligns well with the capabilities of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, the outbound journey to the Caribbean stretches the aircraft’s operational limits. The great circle distance between Madrid’s Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport and Punta Cana International Airport is approximately 4,087 miles (3,552 nautical miles), a challenging distance considering the Boeing 737 MAX 8 has a stated range of 4,028 miles (3,500 nautical miles).
Accounting for headwinds, which increase fuel consumption, this route is ambitious for the MAX 8. To mitigate this, Iberojet will limit seating capacity to 123 passengers each way, thus reducing both the zero fuel weight and the fuel required for the flight.
As Iberojet typically operates an Airbus fleet, the decision to use a Boeing aircraft raises questions about the logistics of this operation, especially since Iberojet has not yet commented on who will operate these flights on their behalf.
In the past, the Boeing 737-8 has been pushed to operate flights with block times just over 8 and a half hours. Observing how these two particular flights perform in April will provide valuable real-world data on the capabilities and limits of the MAX 8 in extended-range operations.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, gatechecked.com