Level opens a new chapter at Barcelona airport. The IAG airline has already obtained its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), establishing itself as an independent company within the holding. This step is highly significant for El Prat, where it is based and carries out all its operations, focusing on long-haul flights from the Catalan capital. Since its creation in 2017, Level operated as a brand of Iberia and was more limited in its growth potential. Now, it will be able to operate autonomously and gain agility.
The AOC, premiered yesterday, “will contribute to our growth and expansion plan,” highlighted Level's CEO, Rafael Jiménez Hoyos. This includes an increase in the fleet and, therefore, in the air capacity in the intercontinental flights segment for El Prat. It is expected to incorporate its seventh aircraft this month and to reach eight Airbus A330-200 aircraft by 2026. Since 2019, the airline has doubled its capacity, with nearly one million seats in 2024. Additionally, for this winter season, it has significantly increased its offering to the United States – its main destination – with 300,000 seats, a 9% increase.
The offer to the United States is increasing by 9% for this winter season, with 300,000 seats
The transformation of the constitution into an autonomous airline (on the same level as Vueling, Iberia, or British Airways) will also lead to an increase in staff in Barcelona. In order to obtain the certification, the company has had to double the number of employees at its Viladecans offices this year, to 70 people, with a new Operations team and the restructuring of the other departments. The technical crews (captains and co-pilots) and cabin crew will also be part of the new structure - they were previously part of Iberia - so the airline has already opened the recruitment process for these positions.
After obtaining the AOC and operating license, the next step will be to start the process of obtaining operational permits for each of the countries it flies to: the United States, Argentina, and Chile. The CEO of IAG, Luis Gallego, highlighted in the latest financial results presentation the commitment to Level, even considering the possibility of expanding to new long-haul markets from Barcelona in the future, such as Asia.
Level has transported up to September 627,000 passengers, 25.2% higher than in the first nine months of 2023, with an occupancy rate of 95.3%, the highest among the airlines in the group. From now on, it will also report its financial results, which were previously consolidated with Iberia.
