Spain’s flag carrier Iberia, which is about to celebrate a major milestone of turning 100 years old, has opened its impressive new Iberia Emerald Lounge Sorolla in Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport. To mark the prestigious occasion, Regional Gateway, Inflight and LARA Group Editor Satu Dahl was invited to attend the event and experience the new lounge first-hand.
Named after Joaquín Sorolla as a tribute to one of Spain’s great masters, Iberia’s brand-new Emerald Lounge Sorolla offers the airline’s customers a more personalised service, delicious Spanish gastronomy, hand-crafted cocktails and highly comfortable new spaces dedicated to relaxation.
At the media event on 9 September, led by Beatriz Guillén, Iberia’s Chief Customer Officer, the lounge cuisine was showcased in abundance. The offering evolves throughout the day and features Spanish traditional delicacies such as tapas, Iberian products and pastries.
A beautiful 360-degree bar with permanent bartender and barista service is naturally one of the focal points of the new lounge which also features furniture by Patricia Urquiola, winner of the 2025 National Design Award, reinforcing Iberia’s commitment to Spanish talent and design.
The Iberia Emerald Lounge Sorolla is located in Terminal 4 of Madrid-Barajas airport and occupies over 800 square metres, accommodating up to 128 guests holding Platino, Platino Prime, Infinita, Infinita Prime and Singular status who are travelling to short- and medium-haul destinations and whose flights depart from gates H, J, K or M.
Iberia says the lounge offers the highest level of exclusivity through an experience built around four key pillars: quality, personalised service, Spanish gastronomy and wellbeing, and forms part of the Flight Plan 2030, Iberia’s strategic roadmap, which includes the continued enhancement of the customer experience among its mains.
As an example, breakfast offering in the lounge includes homemade pastries, a variety of breads, tomato-rubbed toast, hot dishes prepared to order, smoothies, yoghurts and vegan options. The pastries, created by catering company DO&CO, include delicious homemade cakes and desserts, as well as traditional recipes such as crema catalana, almond cake and rice pudding. The lounge’s candy bar features Madrid’s traditional violet sweets, a small tribute to the city from which the journey begins.
The new lounge will host experiences and events linked to Spanish products, recipes and regions, together with gastronomy, cocktail-making and wellbeing initiatives. These will include showcase cooking sessions featuring chef Ugo Chan.
Iberia says wellbeing and privacy were two of the key factors to consider when designing this new space. The lounge features private suite-style rest cabins that allow travellers to disconnect and relax before their flight, as well as showers and new comfort and beauty amenities. Indirect lighting, acoustics and the lounge’s signature scent also contribute to the overall comfort and wellbeing of the space.
