Expanding an airline

摘要

European airline company International Airlines Group (IAG) is planning ambitious growth for Level by expanding the low-cost unit's fleet by more than four times its current size over the next few years. Level currently operates nine aircraft, consisting of five A330-200s (three based in Barcelona, two at Paris-Orly) and four A321s (all based in Vienna). This year will see a relatively modest capacity growth, with the additions of two A330s (one each at Barcelona and Paris-Orly) and three more A321s at Vienna taking the fleet to 14. The longer-term intention is to expand to 42 aircraft by 2023, indicating the carrier is planning to put 28 aircraft into service in the 2020-2022 timeframe. The airline's Chief Executive Officer Vincent Hodder told the IAG Capital Markets Day in late 2018 that Level has "undisclosed aspirational targets, which have us becoming even bigger than that". Although there were no details about the mix of types that will make up Level's future fleet and where they will be based, Hodder explained in more detail exactly how Level slots into lAG's portfolio alongside the full-service airlines, British Airways and Iberia and value carriers, Aer Lingus and Vueling.