The Spanish carrier Air Europa expects to fully recover its pre-pandemic capacity in the second half of the year. The airline will exceed the available seats on its main routes from Madrid-Barajas International Airport (MAD) and receive new aircraft. Let’s investigate further.

Is it rising from the ashes?

The COVID-19 pandemic had a heavy toll on Air Europa, a Spanish carrier that has been on the brink of collapse for the last couple of years. Nonetheless, the airline has managed to recover its operational levels and expects to fully restore its pre-pandemic capacity in the second half of 2022, exceeding 2019 levels by 5%.

In a statement, Air Europa said that after successfully completing a transformation process started a little over a year ago to recover operational profitability, it would begin a new stage of expansion in April, sustained by an increase in sales.

Air Europa expects to exceed the available seats on the main routes from its hub at Madrid Barajas airport. It will also continue to increase its offer by adding 11 new aircraft throughout the year. There are four Boeing 787 Dreamliners that Air Europa will lease from Norse Atlantic among these incoming jetliners. Air Europa currently has 35 aircraft, according to data provided by ch-aviation.

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By restoring its pre-pandemic capacity and adding new aircraft, Air Europa will position itself in the best possible conditions to take advantage of the summer season. The airline will have a fleet composed almost exclusively composed of Boeing aircraft.

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Air Europa will bolster its US network from June onwards. Photo: Air Europa.

The incoming fleet

Air Europa expects to receive 11 aircraft throughout the year. Four will be leased from Norse Atlantic (all Boeing 787 Dreamliners, currently parked in Oslo). The remaining will be new jetliners, including one 787 and six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. Air Europa has a large unfilled order of 20 MAX 8 units with Boeing.

The Spanish carrier did not outline when the new generation aircraft will be delivered, but they will be added to its fleet progressively over the coming months.

Their seating capacity will help meet the increase in passenger numbers in Europe. Air Europa expects its long-haul fleet will be fully restored to pre-pandemic levels this year. In 2019, Air Europa operated several Airbus A330-300 and A330-200, which have exited the fleet as the airline focuses on managing a single OEM fleet type.

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Air Europa is being acquired by IAG. Photo: Getty Images

The latest on IAG’s purchase of Air Europa

In November 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the International Airlines Group (IAG) and Globalia signed an agreement to acquire Air Europa.

Nonetheless, the crisis heavily impacted the purchase procedures, and two years and a half after the announcement, IAG is still waiting for approval from several European governments.

Luis Gallego, IAG’s CEO, recently said it could take up to 18 months for the group to acquire Air Europa. He said it is a very complex process, adding the final goal is to acquire 100% of the Spanish carrier.

Despite the numerous challenges, IAG believes acquiring Air Europa would improve Spain’s and Madrid Barajas’ positions as a continental hub in Europe, competing with Amsterdam-Schiphol, London-Heathrow, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.

What do you think of Air Europa’s plans? Let us know in the comments below.

Sources: ch-aviation, Preferente.