Long distance level wobbles acutely

Within the International Airlines Group, Level Europe is already the first victim to disappear from the market in the direction of bankruptcy. But the long-distance activities that were built up under the level brand from Barcelona (Iberia) and Paris-Orly (OpenSkies) are currently in acute danger.

While the IAG was quite successful as a level in Spain, it never worked particularly well in Vienna, Amsterdam (Level Europe) and Paris-Orly (OpenSkies). Both the occupancy rate and the yield remained extremely far below expectations, which repeatedly gave CEO Willie Walsh unpleasant questions at investor conferences. Now the complete level project is being scrutinized and the first facts have already been created with the filing for insolvency of the Austrian subsidiary.

Officially, the International Airlines Group does not want to comment on the possible abandonment of the Level brand, but confirms that the sale will remain closed. A date for the resumption of the level long haul has not yet been set and from Barcelona and Orly it can be heard from closed hands that the Long Haul could also become a victim of the Corona crisis. There is a rumor that the A330 currently in use under the level brand will in future fly under the British Airways brand from London Gatwick. There is no comment from the IAG.

The further development of the Level brand will probably be decided in the next few days, because Orly Airport will be back online from June 26, 2020. Slots at this Paris airport are generally considered to be particularly popular.