Iberia will operate a special flight on 12 August 2026 to give passengers and viewers around the world a unique view of the total solar eclipse from above the clouds. The Spanish airline will fly an Airbus A321XLR over the province of Palencia, where conditions will be ideal to observe the moment when the Moon completely blocks the Sun. The event will also serve as a scientific opportunity, as researchers from the Shelios project will study the Sun’s corona during the flight.
The special flight will operate under the code IB1473, a reference to the year of birth of astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus. The aircraft will depart from Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 6:45 pm and will follow a specially designed route before returning to Madrid. By flying at more than 10,000 metres above sea level, Iberia aims to reduce the impact of clouds and other atmospheric conditions that can make observations from the ground more difficult.
The route has been planned to place the aircraft in a favourable position over Palencia during the eclipse. The Spanish province lies within the path where the total eclipse will be visible, meaning the Moon will completely cover the Sun for a short period of time. From the aircraft, passengers and researchers will have a view above most of the atmosphere, creating better conditions for observing the phenomenon.
The flight will also be available to people who are not on board. Iberia will livestream the eclipse through its social media channels, allowing viewers to follow the event from a unique perspective. The broadcast will be supported by the airline’s new high-speed WiFi service based on Starlink technology, which Iberia is progressively introducing across its fleet.
The airline says the initiative brings together aviation, science and innovation. “This flight will allow us to take advantage of the benefits offered by observing from cruising altitude to contribute to the study of an exceptional astronomical phenomenon,” said Diego Fernández, Iberia’s Director of Strategy, Transformation and Sustainability. The livestream will offer viewers real-time images of the eclipse from above the clouds, something that would not always be possible from the ground.
The aircraft will also function as a flying research platform. A team from the Shelios project will be on board to carry out measurements of the Sun’s morphology and study the solar corona. The project is led by astronomer Miquel Serra-Ricart, Scientific Director of Light Bridges and researcher at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias.
On Aug. 12, a total solar eclipse will cross Iceland and Spain. NASA will be there!
— NASA Solar System (@NASASolarSystem) August 5, 2026
The U.S. won’t see totality this time, so we’re bringing the science to you. Follow along this week! ☀️https://t.co/gWolno6fNN pic.twitter.com/4ROPK2aHt9
Observing the solar corona is one of the main scientific goals of the mission. The corona is the outer layer of the Sun’s atmosphere and is normally difficult to study because the brightness of the solar surface hides it. During a total solar eclipse, the Moon blocks the main part of the Sun, making the corona visible. From cruising altitude, researchers can avoid some of the obstacles that affect observations from Earth, such as clouds and atmospheric disturbances.
The scientists will also study the area around the Sun during the eclipse. From the aircraft, they may be able to observe the apparent position of planets such as Venus and Mercury, as well as stars that become visible close to the Sun. The Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias has also prepared simulations of how the solar corona could appear during the eclipse using calculations made with a supercomputer in La Palma.
The Iberia flight is part of a growing interest in aviation experiences linked to astronomical events. Airlines are increasingly using aircraft to offer travellers new perspectives on rare natural phenomena. In July 2026, Brussels Airlines also announced a special eclipse flight from Brussels Airport for the same event, in cooperation with scientific organisations including Urania Public Observatory, the University of Antwerp and Vrije Universiteit Brussel.
While Iberia’s flight will focus on the total eclipse, Brussels Airlines will offer passengers the chance to observe a deep partial eclipse from the air. The Belgian flight is expected to reach up to 96% obscuration, meaning that almost the entire surface of the Sun will be covered by the Moon. Researchers on board will study atmospheric changes during the eclipse, including variations in light, temperature and the colour of the sky.
The 12 August 2026 eclipse is expected to become one of the most important astronomical events visible from Europe in recent decades. It will be the first total solar eclipse visible from the Iberian Peninsula since 1912. A total solar eclipse happens when the Sun, Moon and Earth align in such a way that the Moon completely blocks the solar disc from certain locations on Earth.
The event is particularly rare because the Sun and Moon appear almost the same size when viewed from Earth. Although the Sun is around 400 times larger than the Moon, it is also around 400 times farther away from Earth. This coincidence allows the Moon to cover the entire solar disc during a total eclipse.
For observers on the ground, conditions will depend heavily on the weather and location. The Sun will be close to the horizon during the eclipse in Spain, meaning clear skies and an unobstructed view towards the west will be important. By moving above the clouds, Iberia’s special flight aims to offer scientists and viewers a different way to experience one of nature’s most spectacular events.
