Long-haul low-cost: Level takes off

The very first flight of Level, the new long-haul low-cost airline dreamed up by IAG, took place on Thursday 1 June. The airline's Airbus A330-200 left Barcelona in the early afternoon, bound for Los Angeles.
Level IAG
The first Level flight took place on 1 June between Barcelona and Los Angeles.

No sooner said than done: just over two months after announcing its intention to join the the long-haul low-cost raceThe IAG group has kept its word, on schedule. On Thursday 1 June, Level completed its first flight from the Barcelona hub. The device, a Airbus A330-200 nine, left the Catalan tarmac at 3.40pm, embarking 314 passengers for Los Angeles.

This route, which will be operated twice a week, is one of the four destinations on the new airline's schedule. The day after this inaugural flight, it is to Oakland airport, in San FranciscoLevel will be operating three flights a week. This will be followed by Punta Cana (10 June), followed by Buenos Aires (17 June).

Level
From left to right: Javier Sánchez-Prieto (CEO of Vueling), Luis Gallego (CEO of Iberia), Willie Walsh (CEO of IAG) and a flight attendant and the captain of the first LEVEL flight.

" The start of a fantastic new adventure for IAG "says Willie Walsh, CEO of the IAG Group. " Sales of LEVEL tickets have far exceeded our expectations [more than 134,000 tickets have been sold according to the company, editor's note], in all markets. Our new brand has won over new customers who will be travelling long-haul for the first time. ".

extend our operations to other European airports

Barely launched, the new low-cost airline is already arousing great ambitions among the managers of the IAG group. Indeed, other European airports should soon be strengthening Level's position on the old continent. " In 2018, LEVEL will have a fleet of 5 long-haul aircraft, and we are also planning to extend our operations to other European airports. "warns Willie Walsh. For the time being, the new carrier can already count on its sister airline, Vueling, and its network of 12 French airports Connected to Barcelona: Paris CDG and Orly, Brest, Bastia, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Rennes and Toulouse.