Iberia commemorates 80 years of cabin crew service

Iberia is marking the 80th anniversary of the introduction of cabin crew in Spain. The service debuted during the airline's first commercial transatlantic flight between Madrid and Buenos Aires on October 15, 1946, aboard a Douglas DC-4.

The inaugural crew consisted of four women: Pilar Mascías, Marichín Ruiz, María José Ugarte, and Ana Marsans. While various titles such as 'aeromozas' or 'mayordomas' were considered, the term 'azafata' was eventually adopted. The primary requirement for these early professionals was language proficiency, particularly in English.

In 1947, Fernando Castillo became the airline's first male cabin crew member. Early duties focused on passenger assistance and catering service. Regarding attire, the airline eventually introduced uniforms, including white parachute-fabric suits for summer and navy blue suits for other seasons, which later evolved through collaborations with renowned fashion designers.