Iberia (airline) to condone the 150 million dollar debt that Viasa had accumulated to the Spanish carrier in exchange for keeping its fleet composed by four DC-10's and five Boeing 727's. The agreement included a compensation for the staff after the liquidation, which had a cost of 20 million dollars. Regarding Ladeco, Iberia was a minority shareholder (35%) and did not intervene in its management. Initially Iberia had the intention of achieving the merger of Ladeco with Lan Chile, but Chilean antitrust laws prevented it. Later, in 1995, Lan Chile made a major acquisition of Ladeco shares and acquired 57.6% of the
Iberia (airline) company, this operation was approved by the Chilean antitrust prosecution, and then began a merger process in which Iberia losses some rights acquired during its time as shareholder of Ladeco. In 1997 Iberia sold its shares in Ladeco after had made a $22 million investment. In 1996, the airline launched its website. The company ordered 76 aircraft from Airbus in February 1998, which at the time was the largest single Airbus order. The following year it bought Aviaco and inherited that airline's fleet. By the end of the 90's Iberia owned as majority shareholder the Spanish airlines Aviaco, Viva Air,