Category Archives: Vueling Airlines

Vueling to add five seasonal flights this summer

Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) will add five seasonal new routes this summer, including twice-weekly Alicante-Santander (starting on June 20), twice-weekly Barcelona-Cluj (June 27), weekly Barcelona-Santa Cruz de la Palma (June 21), twice-weekly Barcelona-Tallinn (June 20) and Santiago de Compostela-Amsterdam (three flights per week) (June 21) per Airline Route.

Copyright Photo: Karl Cornil/AirlinersGallery.com. Airbus A320-232 WL EC-LUO (msn 5530) with Sharklets approaches Brussels for landing.

Vueling Airlines:

International Airlines Group returns to profitability for 2013

International Airlines Group (IAG) (British Airways, Iberia and Vueling Airlines) (London and Madrid) today (February 28, 2014) presented Group consolidated results for the year to December 31, 2013.

IAG period highlights on results:

Fourth quarter operating profit €113 million (2012: operating loss of €40 million) before exceptional items
At constant currency and excluding Vueling and one-offs, fourth quarter passenger unit revenue up 2.7 per cent, and non-fuel unit
costs down 2.7 per cent
Operating profit for the year to December 31, 2013 of €770 million (2012: operating loss of €23 million) before exceptional items
Revenue for the year up 3.1 per cent to €18,675 million and passenger unit revenue for the year up 0.6 per cent (3.7 per cent at constant currency)
Fuel costs for the year down 2.5 per cent to €5,951 million (2012: €6,101 million). Fuel unit costs down 5.0 per cent at constant currency
Non-fuel costs before exceptional items for year down 0.7 per cent at €11,954 million. Non-fuel unit costs down 5.6 per cent, down 2.7 per cent at constant currency

Cash of €3,633 million at December 31, 2013 was up €724 million on 2012 year end (December 2012: €2,909 million).
Adjusted gearing down 1 point to 50 per cent

Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said:

“In 2013, we strengthened the Group by acquiring Vueling, embarking on Iberia’s transformation and enhancing British Airways’ revenue performance. This has led to a strong financial recovery and return to profitability with a turnaround of nearly €800 million. Our operating profit was €770 million before exceptional items, with passenger revenue up 5.8 per cent and non-fuel costs down 0.7 per cent.

“British Airways continued its solid revenue performance this year and we’re seeing cost improvements, resulting in an operating profit of €762 million. This is the first full year that it’s benefited from the additional Heathrow slots and greater network flexibility created by bmi’s integration. Both the A380 and Boeing 787 were introduced into the airline’s fleet successfully. The new aircrafts’ economic and environmental performance has been excellent and customers love them.

“Iberia has made huge progress on cost control as its restructuring takes shape and great credit should be given to all those involved. It has reduced its losses in the year, reporting an operating loss of €166 million. The recent pay and productivity agreements between Iberia and its pilot and cabin crew unions are key to reducing the airline’s costs further and providing the foundation for profitable growth.

“Vueling is a great asset and provides a new cultural dimension to IAG. The airline reported an operating profit of €168 million from April 2013, when we acquired it, and expanded its network across continental Europe. To increase capacity while improving profit margins is a tremendous achievement and underlines Vueling’s value to the Group.

“We have shown strong financial management this year. Despite buying Vueling and increasing our capital expenditure, cash was up €724 million versus last year and adjusted gearing was down 1 point to 50 per cent.

“Quarter 4 saw an improved financial performance from all our airlines and we are reporting an operating profit of €113 million before exceptional items. Passenger revenue was up 4.0 per cent and non-fuel costs were down 4.1 per cent”.

Trading outlook:

In 2014 we expect to make steady progress towards our 2015 Group operating profit target of €1.8 billion, with relatively flat unit revenue growth, and margin expansion driven by falling unit costs.

Copyright Photo: Keith Burton/AirlinersGallery.com. Vueling has been a good buy for IAG. Formerly operated by Belle Air Europe, Airbus A320-214 EI-LIS (msn 3492) has been repainted at Southend.

British Airways:

Iberia:

Vueling Airlines:

Vueling Airlines announces a new base in Rome, can Alitalia survive?

Vueling Airlines (Vueling.com) (Barcelona) is expanding operations in Italy (especially Rome).

The company will launch a new Rome (Fiumicino) base next summer season starting on April 2, 2014. Vueling will launch 22 new routes from Rome’s Fiumicino Airport throughout the summer. Vueling will base eight Airbus aircraft at the airport. The new destinations from Rome include Alicante, Amsterdam, Athens, Bari, Berlin, Brindisi, Brussels, Catania, Corfu, Dubrovnik, Genoa, Lamezia Terme, Munich, Mykonos, Palermo, Prague, Rhodes, Santiago de Compostela, Seville, Split, Thira (Santorini) and Turin.

Vueling is also adding new routes from Florence for the summer season.

Can Alitalia survive this new assault by lower cost Vueling and Ryanair?

Vueling Airlines:

Vueling to create a new base at Brussels with seven new routes

Vueling Airlines (Vueling.com) (Barcelona) will open a new base in Brussels in May 2014. The airline stated it would launch seven new routes from BRU to Ibiza, Lisbon, Oporto, Palma de Mallorca, Rome, Santiago de Compostela and Venice bringing the Brussels total to 11 routes.

Copyright Photo: Tony Storck/AirlinersGallery.com. Vueling’s Airbus A320-214 EC-LVP (msn 5587) with Sharklets in the “Linking Europe” special scheme arrives at London Heathrow.

Vueling Airlines:

IAG orders 30 Airbus A320ceo and 32 A320neo aircraft for Vueling Airlines

International Airlines Group (IAG) (London) has secured firm orders and options for up to 220 Airbus A320 family short-haul aircraft – up to 120 of these for its subsidiary Vueling Airlines (Barcelona). The new aircraft will enable the airline to replace some of its existing Airbus A320 fleet and expand its business.

The Vueling agreement comprises 62 firm orders – 30 A320ceo and 32 A320neo – plus 58 options. The firm orders will be delivered to Vueling between 2015 and 2020.

In addition, IAG has secured 100 A320neo options which could be used for any of the airlines in the Group – British Airways, Iberia or Vueling – for aircraft replacement requirements.

IAG chief executive, Willie Walsh, said: “Vueling has managed to successfully expand its business profitably by targeting both growth markets and those areas where weak competitors are reducing capacity. These new aircraft will enable Vueling to continue that expansion and replace some of its older fleet with modern, fuel efficient aircraft, leading to further unit cost reductions.

“The benefits that the merger brings to all our airlines are highlighted once again. In addition to the Vueling order, we have also been able to secure a further 100 A320neo options for all the airlines in the Group”.

The Vueling firm orders are subject to approval by IAG’s shareholders. This order will be reviewed alongside the recent IAG long-haul orders for Boeing 787s and Airbus A350s, at a shareholder meeting later this year.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured Airbus A320-232 EC-LVT (msn 5612) with Sharklets was handed over to Vueling on May 31, 2013.

Vueling Airlines Photo Slide Show:

WAN Previous News – Vueling:

ch-aviation Previous News – Vueling:

ch-aviation Fleet List – Vueling:

International Airlines Group loses $43.7 million in the first half, British Airways brings the new Airbus A380 to Frankfurt

British Airways (London) brought its new Airbus A380 to Frankfurt (above) on August 2 as the flag carrier continues to test out the new type on its short haul European routes before it is introduced on longer international routes.

In other news, parent International Airline Group (IAG) lost $43.7 million in the first half of 2013. However IAG had a good second quarter as it managed to cut losses at Iberia in the second quarter to $39.7 million. IAG has cut 1,700 jobs at Iberia (Madrid) and plans to cut another 1,700 by 2015.

IAG issued this financial statement:

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) presented Group consolidated results for the six months to June 30, 2013.

IAG period highlights on results:

Second quarter operating profit €245 million (2012: loss €4 million) before exceptional items, based on strong passenger unit revenues and non-fuel unit cost improvements
Before Vueling at constant currency, second quarter passenger unit revenue up 4.8 per cent and non-fuel unit costs down 0.2 per cent
Operating loss for the half year €33 million (2012: loss €253 million) before exceptional items
Revenue for the half year up 2.1 per cent to €8,707 million including 1.7 per cent adverse currency impact
Passenger unit revenue for the half year up 2.8 per cent (4.6 per cent at constant currency), on capacity increase of 1.2 per cent
Fuel costs for the half year down 3.7 per cent to €2,864 million (2012: €2,973 million). Fuel unit costs down 4.7 per cent at constant currency
Non-fuel costs before exceptional items for the half year up 1.1 per cent at €5,876 million. Non-fuel unit costs down 0.2 per cent, up 0.9 per cent at constant currency
Cash €3,627 million at June 30, 2013, up €718 million including €549 million of Vueling cash
Adjusted gearing up 3 points to 54 per cent including Vueling

Willie Walsh also stated subsidiary Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) would be expanding again and would be taking on a larger role in intra-European routes. Higher-cost Iberia will be reducing its presence in Europe.

Copyright Photo: Bernhard Ross/AirlinersGallery.com. British Airways’ Airbus A380-841 G-XLEA (msn 095) taxies to the gate at Frankfurt.

British Airways:

Video: British Airways has introduced this new “A Ticket to Visit Mum” video for the Indian market:

Vueling Airlines unveils its “Linking Europe” logojet contest winner

Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) on May 30 introduced its new “Linking Europe” logojet on this Airbus A320-214 EC-LVP (msn 5587). The unique livery was the result of a contest to design the logojet. Young designers and architects were invited to submit their designs in March. The winning team is Paolo Nazzari and Plarent Berhamaj.

The Fundació Mies van der Rohe joined with Vueling Airlines to launch the professional career of the winning European students through this contest. The competition also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Mies Award, Europe’s most important and prestigious architecture prize.

Vueling Airlines:

IAG seeks to delist Vueling Airlines

International Airlines Group-IAG (London) is seeking to delist Vueling Airlines (Barcelona) from the Spanish stock exchanges as it nears complete control. The IAG has issued this statement:

International Airlines Group’s (IAG) subsidiary Vueling has called a general shareholders’ meeting on June 27, 2013 to approve the delisting of Vueling’s shares from the Spanish stock exchanges.

The delisting tender offer will be €9.25 per share. Vueling will be delisted from the Barcelona, Bilbao, Madrid and Valencia stock exchanges upon successful completion of the offer.

Since April 26 2013, IAG Group has owned 90.51 per cent of Vueling. This follows a cash tender offer for the Vueling shares that were not already owned by IAG’s subsidiary Iberia which has a 45.85 per cent holding. Acceptance of the original cash tender offer of €9.25 euro per share was recommended by the Vueling board on April 9, 2013.

Vueling is a Spanish low cost carrier based in Barcelona. It will remain a standalone operating company within IAG with its chief executive Alex Cruz reporting into IAG chief executive Willie Walsh.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. A nice ramp portrait of Airbus A319-112 EC-LRZ (msn 3700) at Zurich (click on the photo for the full-size view).

Vueling Airlines:

Video: Alex Cruz in a video interview (last Year):

Vueling Airlines’ board accepts IAG latest raised bid, won’t be merged with Iberia

Vueling Airlines‘ (Barcelona) board of directors has approved the latest bid by the International Airlines Group (IAG) (London) after IAG raised its bid for the remaining shares by 32 percent to €9.25 a share.

IAG CEO Willie Walsh also stated Vueling Airlines will remain a separate carrier and will not be merged with the higher cost and troubled Iberia (Madrid).

Read the full report from Bloomberg: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Gerd Beilfuss. Airbus A320-214 D-AXAS (msn 5533) with Sharklets at a snowy Hamburg (Finkenwerder) became EC-LVO when it was handed over on April 5.

Vueling Airlines:

Vueling Airlines accepts its first Airbus A320 with Sharklets

Vueling Airlines (Vueling.com) (Barcelona) has taken delivery of its first A320 aircraft equipped with Sharklet fuel saving wing tip devices, becoming the first Spanish carrier to do so. Including this delivery, Vueling’s in-service fleet rises to 61 A320 Family aircraft

Sharklets are newly designed wing-tip devices that improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics and significantly cut the airline’s fuel burn and emissions by four per cent on longer sectors. Sharklets are an option on new-build A320 Family aircraft, and standard on all members of the NEO Family. They offer the flexibility to A320 Family operators of either adding around 100 nautical miles more range or allowing an increased payload capability of up to 450 kilograms.

Vueling Airlines: