Iberia will introduce a temporary fuel stop in Las Palmas (Gran Canaria) on its long–haul flights between Madrid-Barajas (MAD) and Montevideo-Carrasco (MVD). The change comes as Uruguay’s main international airport undergoes runway upgrades this summer.
Why the Change?
Carrasco Airport’s primary runway will be closed from June 16 to October 16, 2025, while a new landing system is installed. During this period, all flights must use the secondary runway, which imposes stricter limits on aircraft takeoff weight.
For Iberia’s Airbus A330 service to Madrid, this means the aircraft cannot load full fuel tanks when departing Montevideo. To maintain operational reliability, the airline will now land in Las Palmas for refueling before continuing the journey to Spain.
Schedule Adjustments
To preserve connections in Madrid and avoid late arrivals, Iberia will move the departure time from Montevideo forward by 1 hour and 40 minutes.
Additionally, Carrasco Airport will be fully closed on August 12–13, 19–20, and September 2–3, 2025, meaning no Iberia flights will operate on those dates.
Impact on Passengers
- ✈️ Slightly longer total travel time due to the Las Palmas stop.
- 🕒 Earlier departures from Montevideo.
- 📅 Some travel dates unavailable due to airport closures.
Despite these adjustments, Iberia emphasizes that schedules into Madrid remain designed to protect onward connections to Europe, North America, and the rest of Spain.
