International Airlines Group

[vctenderness]

Page doesn't exist.

[nguba]

The tweet has since been deleted.

Apparently an official announcement is due next Wednesday and Aer Lingus will wet lease aircraft to Vueling.

[nguba]

IAG has issued a statement confirming its plans:

IAG Printer Friendly Version - News Release

On 22 December, IAG announced that it plans to set up a next generation longhaul operation in Barcelona from June 2017 using two A330 aircraft. Destinations being considered include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile, Havana and Tokyo. Options for the new operation include setting up a new airline or consider using existing resources from IAG's airlines. No final decision has yet been made.

IAG also topped 100m passengers in 2016:

IAG Printer Friendly Version - News Release

International Airlines Group (IAG) carried more than 100 million passengers in 2016, a record for the Group.

In total, Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia and Vueling carried 100,675,056 passengers which was up by 14 per cent compared to 2015.

IAG's chief executive, Willie Walsh, said: "This month, IAG celebrates its sixth birthday and our airlines continue to go from strength to strength. Last year we carried more passengers than ever before with our flights 81.6 per cent full.

"In addition, Iberia was the most punctual major global airline in 2016 and its subsidiary Iberia Express was the best performing low cost carrier in the world. Huge credit should be given to the team at Iberia which, following restructuring, has become both financially and operationally stronger".

Group traffic for 2016, measured in Revenue Passenger Kilometres, was up 9.7 per cent while capacity, measured in Available Seat Kilometres, was up 9.4 per cent

[goldeneye]

Would IAG be a possible purchaser of the 49% stake in Air Malta that AZ was looking at now that deal has fallen through ?

[vctenderness]

Well if they did it would close the circle as Air Malta was started by BA predecessor.

[nguba]

I don't think IAG would be interested in acquiring a minority stake in an airline.

I would expect IAG to want full control.

[Una Due Tfc]

There was a lot of talk that TAP would be next once they sort their pension issues.

[CabinCrewe]

Could CX pulling out of BCN be significant with upcoming OneWorld lowcost pending?

[tigertanaka]

There have been rumours about Finnair before. Buying a One World carrier would be easier to integrate and they have a fabulous route network to Asia where BA is weak.

[nguba]

So nearly one month on from the first reports of a new low cost long-haul airline at BCN, still no official launch announcement.

I can see IAG being interested in Finnair as it fills an obvious network gap, provided again it can secure full control with no risk of Government interference.

[inOban]

See ch-aviation. Apparently Iberia express, not Vueling, and no mention of Aer Lingus involvement. No official announcement yet.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

Willie Walsh has confirmed Vueling will not operate new low cost flights from BCN nor would Aer Lingus brand be used....note didn't say Aer Lingus wouldn't operate.

Tickets to go on sale soon.

Barcelona hub a start for BA owner's budget long-haul flights | Reuters

[runway30]

A brand name that most people outside Spain cannot pronounce is not an easy way to build market share so I would not be surprised if Iberia Express is used.

[toledoashley]

Runway30 - It was also announced they have ambitions to grow outside of Spain as well - so I would expect Vueling to be the brand, operated by Aer Lingus.

[Alsacienne]

Is this in anyway related to Iberia Express?

[canberra97]

I was under the impression that a formal announcement had already been made by IAG that Iberia Express will be used for any planned long haul flights from BCN, there was a discussion regarding it on A.net although no official route announcements have been made as it's just in the planning stage for now and may not even happen but I think if anything were looking at 2018.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

Appears to be some speculation that IAG are about to announce a major aircraft order for Bombardier C Series 300 for BA and Aer Lingus (10 for EI).

Could it be BA A319 replacement?

Walsh spoke about C Series last year...

[Waldo1]

Originally Posted by EI-EIDW

Appears to be some speculation that IAG are about to announce a major aircraft order for Bombardier C Series 300 for BA and Aer Lingus (10 for EI).

Could it be BA A319 replacement?

Walsh spoke about C Series last year...

Yes,they are binning off Eir under its present guise and doing it themselves....plus massive expansion of the regional flying programme for BA too

[EI-A330-300]

Yes,they are binning off Eir under its present guise and doing it themselves....plus massive expansion of the regional flying programme for BA too

EIR are under contract until 2022, EI also co own some of the A72-6 while it's been clear for some time a bigger capacity jet is needed.

Anyway interesting to see what happens..

[cornishsimon]

Well STK are trying to recruit E95 crew for a DUN base. We know they are opening routes under the BE brand at SEN but the DUB base would suggest some E95 action in the future for EIr

cs