International Airlines Group (IAG) -- the parent of British
Airways, Iberia, Vueling and Aer Lingus -- will launch a low-cost transatlantic
airline in June called Level.
Level will be based in Barcelona and commence operations
with flights from the Spanish city to Los Angeles, Oakland, Buenos Aires and
Punta Cana. Flights will be operated on Airbus A330s configured with just two
classes; economy and premium economy. Fares beginning at $149 are now on sale
at flylevel.com. Economy passengers will pay extra for checked bags, meals,
seat selection and WiFi.
"Level is an exciting new IAG airline brand which will
bring a stylish and modern approach to flying at prices that are even more
affordable," IAG CEO Willie Walsh said in a statement. "It will
benefit from having the strength of one of the world's largest airline groups
behind it."
He noted that Level will share its base of operations with
Vueling, allowing passengers to connect from the transatlantic routes to
Vueling's continental network.
IAG said in January that it would launch a long-haul
operation out of Barcelona. At the time, IAG didn't say whether the new
operation would fly as a new brand or whether it would operate as a low-cost carrier.
Level is IAG's answer to the growing discount transatlantic
operations of Norwegian Air, Wow and WestJet. Its Barcelona-Oakland service
will compete directly with Norwegian Air, which will launch that route on June
5. Level is also IAG's low-cost answer to Western Europe's two other major
legacy airline groups. Lufthansa agreed late last year to lease 40 aircraft
from struggling competitor Air Berlin, with 35 of those planes to be put toward
an expansion of its low-cost unit, Eurowings. And last November, Air France-KLM
said it would launch a new company to operate out of Paris Charles de Gaulle
alongside Air France.
Level will launch its Barcelona-Los Angeles route on June 1
with two flights per week. Oakland flights will be operated three times per
week, beginning June 2. Service to Punta Cana and Buenos Aires will also begin
in June.
Level aircraft will be outfitted with mood lighting. All
passengers will have access to free seatback entertainment.