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Spanish low-cost carrier (LCC) Vueling, which is owned by International Airlines Group (IAG), has closed three aircraft bases and is rolling out a new restructuring strategy, “Vueling NEXT,” which also includes a new management structure.
A Vueling spokeswoman confirmed to ATW the airline has closed its Italian bases in Catania and Palermo, as well as Brussels in Belgium. Each base had a single 180-seat Airbus A320.
She said “this does not imply the cancellation of routes,” as the majority will continue to be served by non-based aircraft, but Vueling has cut services from Brussels to Oporto and Lisbon in Portugal.
“These changes are a consequence of a restructuring on the network in Europe focusing on main markets for Vueling as Spain, France and Italy,” she told ATW.
Under the Vueling NEXT plan, the LCC said it will place more emphasis on customer experience and minimize costs through improved operational efficiency.
“Vueling’s objective is to become a benchmark in Europe by consolidating its position at Barcelona-El Prat Airport and securing part of Europe’s growth market over the next few years,” Vueling said, adding the consolidation aims to regain customer confidence, and drive growth and profitability.
To support the revamp, Vueling has expanded its management committee from four to seven members and hired a number of new executives. “These new appointments are a fundamental part of a wide restructure,” Vueling said.
Former Southwest Airlines VP-corporate strategy Mike Delehant has been named as Vueling chief strategy officer and will be in charge of Vueling NEXT. Vueling said Delehant will be “pivotal in the airline’s turnaround.”
Calum Laming will join from Etihad Airways, where he was VP-guest experience, to take up the role of Vueling chief customer officer. Laming has held marketing and customer-related positions in several companies, including Procter & Gamble, Virgin Atlantic and Air New Zealand.
Laming’s team will include head of customer experience Rodolfo Oliveira, who joined Vueling earlier this summer after being in charge of quality and efficiency at Brazilian carrier Azul, and head of customer care Patricia González, who previously directed and managed the contact center at French media company Canal+.
Existing Vueling COO Valentin Lago will head up the operational efficiency improvements, supported by new head of operations control Warren Gravell, who has over 25 years’ operations experience with airlines including Gulf Air, UK LCC easyJet and Singaporean LCC Tiger Airways. Rubén Camberos will join from Aeromexico to lead crew planning and former Iberia Express executive Carlos Montesinos has been named as head of cabin services.
Former consultant Luis Galí, who has experience with Daemon Quest, Accenture and PwC, is joining the airline as head of marketing and commercial strategy.
Iliana Cruz has been named as head of revenue management and pricing. Cruz has worked for several airlines, including Latvian carrier airBaltic, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and LOT Polish Airlines.
Communication and HR will also be represented in the management committee for the first time by Ana Fernández and Cristian Rodríguez, respectively.