Iberia’s Special Eclipse Flight: First Total Solar Eclipse Over Continental Europe in 27 Years

Iberia Launches Dedicated Eclipse-Viewing Flight

According to УНІАН — Туризм: On August 12, Spain’s Iberia airline will operate flight IB1473, a special service designed for observing the total solar eclipse. The plane is scheduled to depart from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 18:45, follow a route over the province of Palencia, and then return to Madrid. The flight number references 1473, the year Nicolaus Copernicus was born. Cruising at about 10,000 meters above sea level, the aircraft will pass through the path of totality, giving passengers a direct view of the eclipse from the air.

The expedition will include scientists from the Shelios project, led by astronomer Miquel Serra-Ricart. Serra-Ricart is scientific director of Light Bridges and a researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias. Their goal is to study the solar corona during the eclipse. Iberia will also livestream the event from on board, using Starlink technology, across its social media channels.

The total eclipse on August 12 will be a landmark event, as the Moon’s shadow will cross Greenland, Iceland, Spain, and Portugal. Maximum totality is expected to last about 2 minutes. This marks the first time in 27 years that a total solar eclipse has been visible from continental Europe. Brussels Airlines has also announced its own special flight for the same eclipse. The phenomenon-in which the Sun is roughly 400 times larger than the Moon and positioned at the same distance-is generating huge interest among scientists and amateur astronomers alike.

Observing a solar eclipse matters not only for scientists but also for the broader public, since it gives people a rare chance to watch an astronomical event in real time. Such initiatives help popularize astronomy and science, inspiring more people to explore the cosmos. High-tech tools like Starlink can bring scientific observations directly to a wide audience, helping build curiosity about the universe.

As the anticipation builds for the total solar eclipse on August 12, millions across Europe will have the unique opportunity to witness this rare astronomical event. To learn more about how the skies will illuminate during this spectacular phenomenon, check out our article on the solar eclipse that will captivate audiences throughout the continent. Discover what to expect from this celestial event.