SPAIN: Vueling Airlines Launches Flights From Palma de Mallorca To Stuttgart, Vienna And Lisbon

Vueling launched three new routes from Palma de Mallorca (PMI) in the last week, with services commencing to Stuttgart (STR) and Vienna (VIE) on 1 June, and to Lisbon (LIS) on 2 June.

The latter 1,025-kilometre connection to the Portuguese capital city will be operated twice-weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays and there is no direct competition.

The 1,138-kilometre link to Stuttgart and the 1,456-kilometre route to Vienna will both be operated four times weekly and there is incumbent competition on each airport pair.

The Stuttgart route is already operated by Laudamotion, Eurowings, TUIfly, Condor, easyJet and Ryanair, with these six carriers providing a combined 89 weekly flights.

The Vienna sector is currently flown by Laudamotion and Eurowings which offer a combined 39 rotations.

Commenting on the new link to Palma de Mallorca Julian Jäger, Joint CEO and COO of Vienna Airport said: Thanks to the new flight connection, passengers will enjoy an even broader travel offering to Spain’s most popular holiday island.

The island offers a change of scene to travellers of all ages, whether for a city trip, beach holiday or sport vacation.

Vueling has added two more sectors to its domestic network in the last seven days, with two new sectors from Palma de Mallorca (PMI), its fourth biggest operation after Barcelona, Rome Fiumicino and Paris Orly.

On 15 June, the IAG-owned subsidiary started a three times weekly rotation to Jerez (XRY).

The next day it began a similar frequency on the 393-kilometre city pair to Zaragoza (ZAZ).

Both sectors will be flown by the airline’s A320 fleet, with the latter route to Zaragoza facing direct competition from Air Europa (three times weekly) and Volotea (twice-weekly).

This summer Vueling will serve 26 destinations non-stop from Palma de Mallorca. This is one more than last summer.

However, while five new destinations have been added the others being Florence, Lille and Zurich, four have been dropped: Algiers, Brussels, Catania and Turin.

Vueling Airlines, S.A. is a Spanish low-cost airline based at El Prat de Llobregat in Greater Barcelona with hubs in Barcelona–El Prat Airport and Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy.

Its name comes from the Spanish word vuelo, which means flight. It is the largest airline in Spain by fleet size and the number of destinations.

There are thirteen additional bases at A Coruna, Alicante, Amsterdam, Bilbao, Florence, Madrid, Málaga, Palma de Mallorca, Paris-Orly, Santiago de Compostela, Seville and Valencia.

A fifteenth summer seasonal base is located at Ibiza.

Vueling serves over 100 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. In 2015, the airline carried more than 24 million passengers, with a load factor of 81%.

MTV has since ended.

In November 2010, Vueling announced a new base at Toulouse Airport in France from April 2011, followed in December 2010 by the announcement of a new base in Amsterdam, also to open during April 2011.

The Toulouse base opened on 23 April 2011, but has since closed.

In January 2011, further expansion was announced with Vueling adding a further nine aircraft to its fleet, including Airbus A319 aircraft.

Six Airbus A320s were delivered between April and June 2011, whilst the remaining two A320s were delivered by the end of 2011.

On 21 March 2012, it was announced by CEO Alex Cruz that Rome would be added as a new base.

The base launched on 25 March 2012 with one aircraft based there, the airline has since expanded at Rome with numerous new destinations.

On 5 December 2012, Vueling announced the opening of a new base of operations in Florence, the carrier is to base one aircraft there and serve four new European destinations.

Ten months later, on 25 October 2013, Vueling launched Florence-Catania, its first domestic route in Italy.

Since November 2013, the airline has continued to expand from its hub at Barcelona.

On 6 November 2013, Vueling announced a new base with one aircraft in Brussels, with seven new destinations from May 2014, in addition to the four previous routes from Brussels.

Also in November 2013, Vueling announced an expansion of its base at Rome-Fiumicino. From mid-2014, 8 aircraft would be based there, operating more than 30 routes.

This expansion meant Rome-Fiumcino would become Vueling's second hub, after Barcelona.

During the first weekend of July 2016, Vueling had many delays and cancellations, which resulted in an investigation by the Spanish authorities.

During the same month, Vueling cancelled all the flights to Sheremetyevo International Airport, Vilnius Airport and Rabat–Sale Airport. Clients are able to get a refund or fly to the nearest airport where Vueling flies.

In October 2016, Vueling shut down their bases in Brussels, Catania and Palermo as part of restructuring measures.

In March 2017, Vueling cancelled its route from Barcelona to Frankfurt Airport.

On 29 December 2017, it was announced that IAG would acquire Austrian airline Niki as a subsidiary for Vueling.

In November 2012, International Airlines Group, whose subsidiary Iberia held a 45.85% stake in Vueling, offered to buy the remaining 54.15% of the company with both Iberia and IAG owning both shares and not resulting in the company being wholly owned by IAG through 100% of shares.

IAG, also the owner of British Airways, plans to use Vueling to help stem losses at Iberia.

However, market trends increased profits and improved figures from Vueling resulting in a higher share-price had made IAG's offer a significant undervaluation of the airline.

Vueling had urged its shareholders to reject IAG's offer and its shareholders had until the 8th of April 2013 to decide upon the recommendation.

On 27 March 2013, IAG improved its offer for Vueling, raising its offer per share from €7 to €9.25.

Vueling shares quickly surged following the announcement, rising by 8.8% to €9.23 following a temporary suspension as BMAD waited on an official comment from Vueling regarding the updated offer.

The acceptance period was also increased by 48 calendar days.

On 9 April 2013, the board of Vueling unanimously recommended shareholders accept an improved offer of €9.25 per share from IAG.

IAG CEO Willie Walsh confirmed that the board had recommended the new offer; however, Walsh also stated that Vueling would not be merged with Iberia, saying, Vueling will operate as a stand-alone entity in IAG group.

On 23 April 2013, IAG acquired control of Vueling which saw the recently purchased 44.66% stake by IAG merged with Iberia's existing 45.85% stake to form a 90.51% shareholding.

Vueling remains a standalone company now within the IAG and its management structure is unchanged; however, Vueling's CEO Alex Cruz reports directly to IAG CEO Willie Walsh.

Vueling has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

- British Airways

- Cathay Pacific

- Iberia

- Qatar Airways


The Vueling fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Airbus A319-100 - 5

Airbus A320-200 - 89

Airbus A321-200 - 15

Total - 107

Vueling orders for more aircrafts:

Airbus A320neo - 47


Tourism Observer

SPAIN: Iberia Now Flying Burgos To Barcelona

Iberia has recommenced scheduled flights at Burgos (RGS), with a three times weekly service from its Barcelona (BCN) operation.

The two Spanish airports were connected in 2015, when Léon Airlines offered the domestic city pair for a short time.

Flown by Air Nostrum’s CRJ 1000 fleet, the route faces no direct competition.

Iberia began three times weekly operations to San Francisco (SFO) on 25 April from its Madrid (MAD) hub.

Flown by the IAG-owned airline’s A330-200 fleet, the latest addition to Iberia’s US network joins its existing services to Miami, New York JFK - both double-daily, Boston, Chicago O’Hare - both daily and Los Angeles - five times weekly.

The 9,326-kilometre sector will face no direct competition.

Spain’s national airline Iberia has been gradually rebuilding capacity from its main hub after five successive years of cuts following the global economic crash of 2008-2009.

OAG schedules data shows that the combined departing seats available from Madrid on Iberia, its LCC subsidiary Iberia Express, and independent franchise partner Air Nostrum, which operates under the Iberia Regional brand, increased by 19% from 2014 to 2017.

The three carriers will offer flights to a combined 124 destinations from Madrid during 2017.

Domestic services account for about 22% of the routes, but provide up to 41% of Iberia’s total published capacity from its main base in 2017.

Between 2008 and 2010 the vast majority of Iberia’s published flights from Madrid were operated by the flag carrier’s mainline aircraft or Air Nostrum, with a small percentage performed by other airlines including charter carrier Iberworld.

Relative newcomer to the family Iberia Express, which only began services in 2012, has seen the strongest capacity growth from Madrid over the past three years among the three Iberia-branded carriers.

In 2017, Iberia Express will provide 41% more seats from Madrid than it did in 2014.

Over the same period, the capacity provided by Iberia and Iberia Regional has increased by a more modest 15% and 10% respectively.

The largest year-on-year increase in Iberia Express’ capacity from Madrid took place between 2016 to 2017.

The LCC subsidiary has increased its number of departing seats from the capital city by 23% in 2017.

Iberia Express has introduced services from Madrid to Cagliari, Cardiff, and will add Toulouse to its network later in the year, but discontinued connections to Athens, Gothenburg, Stockholm Arlanda and Vigo.

Toulouse is already operated by Iberia Regional, so Iberia Express will be adding capacity on this sector, while Athens and Vigo are still served from Madrid by Iberia.

Much of Iberia Express’ capacity growth was due to the addition of seats on existing services.

This includes an increase in capacity on its five largest routes, domestic links to Gran Canaria, Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife North, Santiago de Compostela and Seville.

A review of the available published capacity reveals that more than half of Iberia’a top 12 routes from Madrid in S17 link the Spanish capital with domestic destinations.

The strongest year-on-year growth took place on the domestic services to Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife North, Santiago de Compostela and Gran Canaria which saw their summer season seats expand by 27%, 21%, 14% and 12% respectively.

This is a result of an rise in capacity by Iberia Express.

A comparison of the capacity on offer during the week commencing 10 October with the equivalent week in 2016 reveals that Iberia Express has increased its frequencies to Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife North and Santiago de Compostela.

The frequency from Madrid to Gran Canaria remained static, indicating that the capacity increase on this route was due to more flights being operated by larger A321s in 2017.

OAG schedule data shows that the number of frequencies operated by A321s has grown on all four of the highlighted domestic routes in 2017.

Paris Orly was the top 12 route with the largest reduction in capacity from S16 to S17, with Iberia reducing the number of frequencies by 10%, which resulted in an 8% reduction in seats.

Lisbon and New York JFK which were in the top 12 for S16 have dropped out in S17 and have been replaced by Santiago de Compostela and Buenos Aires Ezeiza.


Tourism Observer

SPAIN: Andalusian Cuisine

Paella, Spicy Andalusian Seafood
Andalusian cuisine is the cuisine of Andalusia, Spain.

Important dishes include gazpacho, fried fish often called pescaito frito in the local vernacular, the jamones of Jabugo, Valle de los Pedroches and Trevelez, and the wines of Jerez, particularly sherry.

Frying in Andalucian cuisine is dominated by the use of olive oil that is produced in the provinces of Jaen, Cordoba, Seville, and Granada.

Malaga, Almeria, Cadiz and Huelva produces olive oil too, but in smaller amounts.

The foods are dredged in flour a la andaluza or meaning only flour, without egg or other ingredients, but may include flour from the chickpea especially for use in batters.

They are then fried in a large quantity of hot olive oil.

With five coastal provinces, the consumption of fish and shellfish is rather high: white shrimp from the Bay of Cadiz; prawns; murex; anchovies; baby squid; cuttlefish; bocas de la Isla, a dish found in San Fernando that uses a local crab that can regenerate its claw; flounder; etc.

Andalucian cuisine includes also some unusual seafood, like ortiguillas, sea anemones in batter.

Andalucian desserts are heavily influenced by Arabic medieval Andalucian cuisine.

Notable dishes include pestinos a deep-fried pastry bathed in honey, alfajores, amarguillos a form of almond macaroons from Medina Sidonia, the polvorones almond cookies of Estepa, lard bread, wine doughnuts, torrijas and Calentitos.

Pescado frito
Pescado frito or fried fish in Spanish and Judeo-Spanish, also called Pescaito frito or fried little fish in Andalusian dialect, is a traditional dish from the Southern coast of Spain.

The dish typically found in Andalusia, but also in Catalonia, Valencia, the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands.

Pescado frito is also consumed as a delicacy in inland Spain, being very common in the inland Andalusian provinces of Seville and Cordoba.

It is also very common throughout the Mediterranean Basin and is found in Provence and Roussillon, France and in the coastal regions of Italy where the most common variant using salt cod fillets is known as filetto di baccala.

In Greece where various fish like Mediterranean sand smelt, European anchovy, cod, common sole, greater amberjack and picarel are used.

It was also eaten by the Romans in ancient Rome.

It is made by coating the fish, usually a white fish in flour and deep-frying it in olive oil, then sprinkling it with salt as the only seasoning.

It is usually served hot, freshly fried, and can be eaten as an appetizer.

For example with a beer or wine, or as the main course. Usually, it is served with fresh lemon, which is squeezed over the fish or occasionally in escabeche.

It is also a traditional Shabbat fish dish, usually cod originating amongst the 16th century Andalusian Jews of Spain and Portugal.

The deep-frying of the fish in vegetable oil makes it crisp and light even when eaten cold, and it is a favourite dish for the late breakfast or lunch after synagogue services on Saturday morning.

There is a general belief that pescado frito was possibly an inspiration for the English fish and chips, brought to England by Spanish Jews.

Sephardim began to settle in England in small numbers in the 16th century, and in larger numbers after Oliver Cromwell lifted the formal ban in the 1650s.

The wines of Jerez also known as sherry are famous the world over, praised even by William Shakespeare.

Other standouts are the manzanilla of Sanlucar de Barrameda, the white wines of Cadiz, paxarete a sherry derivative, wines of Condado in Huelva, wines of Montilla-Moriles in Cordoba, wines of Malaga, and la tintilla of Rota.

The liquors of the region are also popular, included the anis made in Rute, and in Cazalla de la Sierra, and the rums from the Tropical Coast of Granada (Motril).

Typical Andalucian dishes include pescaito frito or fried fish, gazpacho, Cordoban salmorejo, pringa, oxtail, jamon iberico or Iberian ham, prepared olives, alboronia, polea, anise, and various kinds of wine.

These, including sherries - fino, manzanilla, oloroso, Pedro Ximenez, amontillado which are undoubtedly the most exported and most widely available of all Spanish wines, as well as Malaga wine.

The wine from Montilla, while similar to sherry, is not technically a sherry, but gives its name to amontillado, meaning in the style of Montilla.

Some other Andalucian dishes include:

- Salmorejo (Cordoba)

- Flamenquin (Cordoba)

- Ajoblanco (Malaga-Cadiz)

- Gazpacho andaluz or Andalucian Gazpacho

- Pipirrana (Jaen)

- Habas con calzones

- Huevos a la flamenca

- Alcauciles rellenos (Cadiz)

- Migas de Harina

- Gachas

- Puchero

- Gazpachuelo (Malaga)

- Bienmesabe o adobo

- Ajo harina (Jaen)

- Soldaditos de Pavia

- Pringa

- Patatas a lo pobre

- Tortilla de patatas

- Tortillitas de camarones (Cadiz)



Tourism Observer

NETHERLANDS: Transavia Adds New Routes To Marrakech, Seville And Tel Aviv

Transavia has added four brand-new routes and another twelve are offered as winter routes for the first time. With these sixteen new winter routes, Transavia now offers 8% more flights than last winter from its home base in the Netherlands.

Transavia is expanding its network from Eindhoven Airport with three new routes to Marrakech, Seville and Tel Aviv. These popular destinations are also offered from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

This brings the number of destinations from Eindhoven Airport to 21. Starting in February, the airline is adding Lisbon to its flights from Rotterdam The Hague Airport, bringing the number of destinations served this winter from this airport to 18.

No fewer than twelve destinations flown to this summer for the first time will be included in the winter schedule. This enables Transavia to strengthen its network from the Dutch home market. With four new destinations in Eastern and Central Europe, Transavia offers passengers a low-cost connection to Amsterdam. Belgrade, Ljubljana, Sofia and Katowice are all flown to three times a week from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol.

Helsinki, Zurich and Munich can also be booked three, four and six times a week, respectively, from Amsterdam. In addition, Transavia has added the Italian city of Olbia on Sardinia to its winter network from Amsterdam.

Bergerac, Venice and Valencia are also being flown to this winter from Rotterdam The Hague Airport and, in April, the winter route to Stockholm will be launched, with three flights a week.

With nearly 70 flights a week from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport during the winter sports season, Transavia is also the best choice for winter sports enthusiasts. Convenient flight schedules with a regular choice of three flights per day allow passengers to tailor their trip to their needs – from a short weekend trip to a long ski holiday.

The winter schedule starts on 1 November 2017 and ends on 2 April 2018. Winter flights can be booked to and from the Netherlands as of today, 19 April 2016.

WestJet Goes Ultra-low-cost

WestJet has announced its intention to launch a new, ultra-low-cost carrier (ULCC) in Canada subject to agreement with its pilots and any required regulatory approvals. Service is expected to start in late 2017 with an initial fleet of 10 high-density Boeing 737-800s designed by the airline that first brought low-cost air travel to Canada in 1996. The ULCC will provide Canadians with no-frills, lower-cost travel options.

“We have built WestJet from its low-cost, regional roots into a renowned, international airline with service to 21 countries and today it’s all about disrupting at the price-sensitive end of the market,” said Clive Beddoe, co-founder of WestJet and Chair of the Board of the Directors. “Launching a ULCC will broaden WestJet’s growth opportunities and open new market segments by offering more choice to those Canadians looking for lower fares.”

“The worldview on low-cost airlines has changed since the launch of WestJet in 1996 and we are responding,” commented Gregg Saretsky, WestJet President and CEO. “The complete unbundling of services and products in order to lower fares for the price-sensitive traveller has created the ULCC category and our new airline will provide Canadians a pro-competitive, cheap and cheerful flying experience from a company with a proven track record.”

Certain information set forth in this news release is “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information respecting: WestJet’s intention to launch a new ULCC; the in-service date of the ULCC; and the impact of the ULCC, including that the ULCC will broaden WestJet’s growth opportunities, open new market segments and provide a pro-competitive, cheap and cheerful flying experience.

The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain material factors and assumptions, including without limitation: WestJet’s current forecasts and strategy; the current and expected demand environment and general economic and industry conditions; the utilization of WestJet’s fleet and contraction arrangements in respect thereof; expectations respecting fleet maintenance; the forward-curve for jet fuel prices; and the expected exchange rate of the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar.

By its nature, forward-looking information is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond WestJet’s control. WestJet may be required to alter its current business strategy with respect to the ULCC and/or the timing and manner of implementation thereof and there can be no guarantee as to the nature or impact of such alterations. Further, the launch of the ULCC may not have the impact currently anticipated by WestJet.

The risks and uncertainties that may impact WestJet and the launch and success of the ULCC, include but are not limited to: changes in guest demand; changes in fuel prices; delays in aircraft delivery; significant maintenance events; changes in general economic and industry conditions; changes in the competitive environment; challenges to WestJet’s ability to effectively implement and maintain its critical systems; and other factors and risks described in WestJet’s public reports and filings.

Readers are urged to consult the risks set forth in WestJet’s annual information form and management’s discussion and analysis for the year ended December 31, 2016, which are each available under WestJet’s profile at sedar.com, for important additional information.

Readers are cautioned that undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking information as actual results may vary materially from the forward-looking information provided. WestJet does not undertake to update, correct or revise any forward-looking information as a result of any new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable law

PERU: British Airways Adds Only Direct Flight From Gatwick To Lima

From Summer 2016 travellers will be able to fly direct to Lima, Peru’s capital courtesy of British Airways putting making this South American country more accessible.

The three times a week service in the summer months will operate a three-cabin British Airways Boeing 777, with the route starting from May 4, 2016, and offering holiday-makers and business travellers the only direct flights between London and Lima.

Year-round prices start from £765 for those flying in World Traveller, £1,185 in World Traveller Plus and £2,549 for those relaxing in fully-flat Club World seats, and all fares include taxes and charges.

Lynne Embleton, British Airways’ managing director at Gatwick said:

With the world-famous Inca Trail and the incredible citadel of Machu Picchu, there’s nowhere quite like Peru. Its rich cultural heritage make it one of the most popular places in South America to visit and explore.

It is great to be the only airline to offer direct services between London and Peru. Lima is a fantastic gateway to some of the most dramatic places to visit in South America and will also provide a new link for British business seeking to invest in Peru’s growing market.

Lima is the latest destination to have been launched by British Airways and follows hot on the heels of Costa Rica, which was announced as the airline’s latest new route from Gatwick earlier this month.

Other new holiday-friendly routes started this year from Gatwick by British Airways include Cagliari, Madeira and Seville, with flights due to start soon to Sharm El Sheikh, Valencia and Vienna.

SPAIN: Iberia Express Connects Madrid To Paris

Eric Coupaye, AdP; Elena Valdés, Tourspain in France; and Paloma Utrera, Iberia Express are cutting the ribbon at Paris CDG before the departure of Iberia Express’ first flight to Madrid.

Iberia Express, Iberia Group’s low-cost carrier, started daily flights to Paris CDG (CDG) from Madrid (MAD) on 7 September.

Operated by the airline’s 180-seat A320s, the 1,061-kilometre route will face competition from three carriers, with Air France (42 times weekly), easyJet (16) and Vueling (11) already serving the airport pair.

The new flight complements Iberia’s existing operations at Paris Orly, where it offers on average six daily flights. The Iberia Group of airlines currently flies 346 weekly frequencies between Spain and France – operated from Paris, Bordeaux, Strasbourg, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Perpignan and Toulouse in France and the Spanish cities of Madrid, A Coruña, Santander, Seville and Tenerife South.