Spanish regional carrier Air Nostrum, that operates under the Iberia Regional brand, is in talks with Iberia to change the conditions of the franchising contract to be able to start to operate bigger aircraft. Presently the franchising deal includes a limitation, meaning that Air Nostrum isn´t allowed to use aircraft with capacity of more than 70 passengers. Air Nostrum operates 50-seat CRJ200 and Dash 8-Q315, and 68-seat ATR72-500 aircraft, as well as some Fokker 50´s under wet lease from Denim Air.
If Iberia agrees on changing the contract, Air Nostrum would get into Iberia´s market on the route the flag carrier operates with its MD87´s. There once was a rumour that ANS would take over Iberia´s MD87, although the company´s preference for new aircraft would discharge this option.
Furthermore, ANS wants to limit the use of turboprop aircraft to short routes only, e.g. between the Balearic Islands and the route from mainland Spain to Melilla. There is a strong preference from the passengers to fly in jets.