Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas

Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas S.A. is a Spanish long-haul airline based at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport.

History

Plus Ultra was founded in 2011 by the former director of the now-defunct Air Madrid, Julio Miguel Martínez Sola.[3] Plus ultra ("Further beyond") is a Latin motto and the national motto of Spain. It is taken from the personal motto of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain, and is a reversal of the original phrase Non plus ultra ("Nothing further beyond").

On 15 June 2016 the airline started operating regular flights, with destinations such as Santo Domingo and Lima. The initial fleet was made up of two pre-owned Airbus A340-300s which had been taken over from Gulf Air in late 2014.[3] In March 2017, the airline announced two new routes: Barcelona-Madrid-Santiago from 15 June 2017 and Barcelona-Havana from 1 July 2017,[4][5][6] however, both flights did not commence service. One year later, Plus Ultra announced plans to serve Caracas from Tenerife–North.[7]

In March 2021, the Spanish government announced an aid of 53 million euros from the fund created to support companies considered strategic during the economic crisis derived from COVID-19.[8] The public bailout was controversial and went to court, although in January 2023 the judge of the Madrid Court of Instruction No. 15 dismissed the case.[9] On 11 December 2025, an investigation into the company was made public by the same court for alleged money laundering. That same day, police arrested the airline's owner and CEO after searching its headquarters.[10]

Destinations

As of June 2024, Plus Ultra Líneas Aéreas operates scheduled flights to the following destinations:[11]

Fleet

See also

• List of airlines of Spain

External links