Iberia Lineas Aereas de Espana SA (IBLA.MC), Spain's largest airline, said Thursday its passenger load factor rose to 79% in December, a historic high for this month and up from 76% a year earlier.

Load factor, a measure of occupancy used in the airline industry, is the percentage of all seats offered which are occupied on flights.

MAIN FACTS:

- Iberia said its passenger load factor rose in December thanks to strong demand for its inter-continental flights.

- Iberia said the load factor for its long-haul flights rose to 85% in December from 81.5% in the year-earlier period.

- Iberia said its passenger load factor for 2009 fell slightly to 79.8% from 80% in 2008.

Iberia Web site: www.iberia.com

- By Jonathan House, Dow Jones Newswires; +34 91 395 8120; jonathan.house@dowjones.com