The skies above Spain will be chock-a-block next summer as a bumper 14 budget airlines fight for the expected record number of tourists heading for classic cities and ever popular Costas.
Two new budget airlines are expected to enter the fray and take-on established Easyjet and Ryanair at their own game of low fares, low service levels and a high chance of paying more than expected for many passengers caught out by “tricky” add-ons.
Iberia Express, a low-cost subsidiary of International Airlines Group (IAG) will link all the country’s city airports to the international feeder hub at Madrid, where they can collect and deposit international passengers for joint parents Iberia and British Airways.
Easyjet founder Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou has said he is setting up a new airline called Fastjet and his main target is expected to be Spain and British Airways have said they have not ruled out a budget airline of their own – having sold Go to Easyjet under previous management.
The ‘low-cost’ Iberia Express will start operating around Easter 2012 and will have a staff of around 500 people and a fleet of 13 A320 aircraft. It will compete internally and on the international market. Associate airline, Vueling, recently voted the best low cost airline serving the Spanish market, will continue to run the routes out of Barcelona and other cities, whilst Iberia Express will focus on Madrid.
Vueling from Lavisual on Vimeo.
Spain enjoyed record tourist numbers in 2011 and pundits forecast even more as the property market strengthens and hotels expand their strained capacity.
Spanish website, gospain.about.com has voted Vueling the best budget airline in Europe because of its “near faultless booking system, taxes and fees included in base fare, online check-in even with bags, choose your own seat, email address provided, flexible date option.”
The worst airline is Ryanair, languishing at the bottom of the pile. Number two airline is Transavia. 3 Easyjet, 4 Monarch, 5 Germanwings, 6 Air Lingus, 7 Flybe, 8 BMI baby, 9 ThomsonFly 10, Whizz Air, 11 Jet2, 12 Ryanair.
