Good morning everyone! I thought of doing a thread regarding aviation in Spain, news and updates on current and new operators, etc.

- Any updates on Gowair? They had a fleet of 3 A320s. The one bearing a colorful tail, had been sitting on remote stand in front of MAD's T2. The other 2 had their engines covered and were stored on remote stands, closer to the cargo area.

- Swifair's ATR72-500 EC-MKE was hit by ground vehicles and had been on open storage ever since. Last time I spotted it, it was being used as parts donor for other aircraft. It is listed as active on airfleets, although its current condition is far from active.

What next for Binter? Have they any further ATR76´s on order or is it only Embraer 295 from here?
Know they have 3 delivered with two more due? But will more be ordered to release all the CRJ1000´s they have leased in?

Will Air Europa get the go ahead to be merged with Iberia??

Great idea Embajador3 !

Same for Air Nostrum's ATR76s - they only have 4 of them plus 7 leased. Are there any routes in which the CRJ is not a good replacement for the ATRs?

Ryanair announced this week they adding a 2nd plane for its SCQ base in June

https://www.larazon.es/economia/2020020 ... y5kcm.html

Ryanair crece en Santiago

In the last 5 years, SCQ has got 4 based planes:

S15: Vueling 1st plane
S16: Ryanair 1st plane
S19: Vueling 2nd plane
S20: Ryanair 2nd plane

In addition TAP will start its only new European destination in S20 with a twice daily LIS-SCQ starting June 5.

downtown273 wrote:

Great idea Embajador3 !

Same for Air Nostrum's ATR76s - they only have 4 of them plus 7 leased. Are there any routes in which the CRJ is not a good replacement for the ATRs?

The Avion Revue Magazine stated that Air Nostrum currently has 9 ATR72-600, plus another 2 leased from CanaryFly and based in MLN.

acelanzarote wrote:

What next for Binter? Have they any further ATR76´s on order or is it only Embraer 295 from here?
Know they have 3 delivered with two more due? But will more be ordered to release all the CRJ1000´s they have leased in?

Will Air Europa get the go ahead to be merged with Iberia??

Binter has another 3 ATR72-600 on order, and they recently took delivery of another one.

Gracias Embajador3!

Good question, does anyone have any updates on the UX acquisition?

From my Canary perspective, Ryanair is re-starting some flights from LPA after having fired everyone in the base. My guess is hiring new for cheaper which is causing quite a stir in the islands.

Looking forward to the new IB a350 deliveries https://www.planespotters.net/productio ... s/A350?p=8

I also wonder if anyone has any thoughts on the "enhanced onboard services" https://grupo.iberia.es/news/20012020/i ... s-for-2020

Gracias!

himarhernandez wrote:

From my Canary perspective, Ryanair is re-starting some flights from LPA after having fired everyone in the base. My guess is hiring new for cheaper which is causing quite a stir in the islands.

You are very welcome, himarhernandez!

As for FR, I doubt they will anybody there any time soon. My guess they will continue to fly there from other bases, and if necessary, they will temporarely base Buzz Air or Lauda planes.

Spanish aviation will be much different from today once UX takeover by IB takes place.

Some of my question marks are:

Is the UX brand going to be retained as a full-service carrier?
If not will UX ops split between VY for short-haul and LV for long-haul?
Will UX long-haul network be kept? specially service to second-tier and leisure LatAm destinations unserved by IB. Will LV pick up UX long-haul network?
Expecting IB short-haul network to increase substantially (fleet size increase), what's the future for YW?
Will AF/KL replace UX feeder flights to AMS/CDG as UX leaves Sky (VLC, AGP, PMI, etc)?

himarhernandez wrote:

I also wonder if anyone has any thoughts on the "enhanced onboard services" https://grupo.iberia.es/news/20012020/i ... s-for-2020

Gracias!

Recent thread on this subject: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1439533&p=21958281&hilit=iberia#p21958281

upperdeckfan wrote:

Spanish aviation will be much different from today once UX takeover by IB takes place.

Is this going to happen, after all?

Embajador3 wrote:

- Any updates on Gowair? They had a fleet of 3 A320s. The one bearing a colorful tail, had been sitting on remote stand in front of MAD's T2. The other 2 had their engines covered and were stored on remote stands, closer to the cargo area.

Very strange their web-page is down, but it is still listed as official AOC holder as of 12th February 2020:
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/lang_ ... fault.aspx
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/media ... cias_a.pdf
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/media ... do_aoc.pdf

tobsw wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

Spanish aviation will be much different from today once UX takeover by IB takes place.

Is this going to happen, after all?

Why not?

EU authorities are working on the approval, a merge like this doesn't get approved overnight but it will happen for sure. We'll see some restrictions on the deal (anti-trust), but none will be show stoppers.

debonair wrote:

Embajador3 wrote:

- Any updates on Gowair? They had a fleet of 3 A320s. The one bearing a colorful tail, had been sitting on remote stand in front of MAD's T2. The other 2 had their engines covered and were stored on remote stands, closer to the cargo area.

Very strange their web-page is down, but it is still listed as official AOC holder as of 12th February 2020:
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/lang_ ... fault.aspx
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/media ... cias_a.pdf
https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/media ... do_aoc.pdf

Just checked their website, it is very much up and running, they are even hiring! On a side note, only yesterday, I saw one of their A320 getting some TLC.

Embajador3 wrote:

Just checked their website, it is very much up and running, they are even hiring! On a side note, only yesterday, I saw one of their A320 getting some TLC.

Thank you! I tried one week ago their web-page, which was not working - but you are right, its back again!

BTW. Plus Ultra has taken over the reconfigured ex Etihad A340-600, any idea what Business Class looks like? Have the kept the former EY-interior?

debonair wrote:

Embajador3 wrote:

Just checked their website, it is very much up and running, they are even hiring! On a side note, only yesterday, I saw one of their A320 getting some TLC.

BTW. Plus Ultra has taken over the reconfigured ex Etihad A340-600, any idea what Business Class looks like? Have the kept the former EY-interior?

I know they have more than one A346. My guess is that they probably kept it as is, or perhaps they removed the first class section and left the business class only.

Gowair's A320 EC-MQH is nowhere to be see in MAD.

Embajador3 wrote:

Gowair's A320 EC-MQH is nowhere to be see in MAD.

Strange, plane should have been back today in MAD after some sub-charter work for TuiFly...

https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ec-mqh

upperdeckfan wrote:

tobsw wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

Spanish aviation will be much different from today once UX takeover by IB takes place.

Is this going to happen, after all?

Why not?

EU authorities are working on the approval, a merge like this doesn't get approved overnight but it will happen for sure. We'll see some restrictions on the deal (anti-trust), but none will be show stoppers.

This is correct, there is no update until the EU big guns come back to approve and likely they will, but there might just be some restrictions.

In terms of what the future place of AEA in IAG, I think it will stay broadly as it is for 12-18'months pending a belt and braces review of the business.

IAG will consolidate its brands, I think.st this juncture that is logical. AEA will be absorbed into IB and VY respectively. Those MAD centric services will become IB or IB Express, those outside of that will go to VY or equivalent.

The big ticket item is Aircraft type.
Will each airline be forced to bring a new type into the fleet?
Clearly terminals, alliances, FFPs and commercial agreements will all be up for change....

IrishLessor wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

tobsw wrote:

Is this going to happen, after all?

IAG will consolidate its brands, I think.st this juncture that is logical. AEA will be absorbed into IB and VY respectively. Those MAD centric services will become IB or IB Express, those outside of that will go to VY or equivalent. .

On IAG's press release, they said they want UX's brand to remain very much alive as it serves its purpose of being some sort of carrier in between a legacy and a low cost airline.

Embajador3 wrote:

IrishLessor wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

IAG will consolidate its brands, I think.st this juncture that is logical. AEA will be absorbed into IB and VY respectively. Those MAD centric services will become IB or IB Express, those outside of that will go to VY or equivalent. .

On IAG's press release, they said they want UX's brand to remain very much alive as it serves its purpose of being some sort of carrier in between a legacy and a low cost airline.

I wonder if they will keep it as their low cost brand (maybe replacing Level and or Vueling?) Certainly no need for four Spanish brands (IB, UX, IB2, VY)

himarhernandez wrote:

Embajador3 wrote:

IrishLessor wrote:

On IAG's press release, they said they want UX's brand to remain very much alive as it serves its purpose of being some sort of carrier in between a legacy and a low cost airline.

I wonder if they will keep it as their low cost brand (maybe replacing Level and or Vueling?) Certainly no need for four Spanish brands (IB, UX, IB2, VY)

Yeah, I agree. I still don't understand why would they need to have Vueling, Air Europa and Iberia Express in Spain. Level makes more sense, since it is a brand shared by other members of IAG (Iberia, Anisec and Openskies).

upperdeckfan wrote:

tobsw wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

Spanish aviation will be much different from today once UX takeover by IB takes place.

Is this going to happen, after all?

Why not?

EU authorities are working on the approval, a merge like this doesn't get approved overnight but it will happen for sure. We'll see some restrictions on the deal (anti-trust), but none will be show stoppers.

Now with the COVID-19 crisis hitting Europe, its companies, and in particular of course, its airlines (FlyBE just died, not just because COVID, but it sure helped) are suffering great losses. Air Europa has just launched a "promo" allowing incoming flights purchased on March and due to fly until June to change dates waiving all change fees (just fare difference if any). Forward bookings must not be that great and Globalia/Air Europa is quite tourism focused. They have quite a huge capacity to fill with people planning Easter, 1st of May long weekend and even summer holidays quite in advance... and also all those days in-between.

When companies are hit hard, on the brink of collapse, or just having continious periods of losses, competition authorities should not be that blocking.

acelanzarote wrote:

What next for Binter? Have they any further ATR76´s on order or is it only Embraer 295 from here?
Know they have 3 delivered with two more due? But will more be ordered to release all the CRJ1000´s they have leased in?

Binter is in full mainland Spain expansion mode. Some years ago, they tried Europe byassing Spain with leased 737 but it didn't work out. Now they started out with cheaper to run / easier to fill CRJ1000 leased from Air Nostrum to an also easier market given the 75% fare subsidy for Canary Islands residents on domestic flights. Now they are upgrading those routes to E-195 which is an increase of seats of 30% so they must be doing quite ok. Given they also offer free of charge connections from/to the rest of airports in the Canaries, it won't be hard to fill.

Indirectly Binter, could in this way be helping Iberia on its attempt to buy Air Europa, the more domestic flying from competitors, the less damage to competition from removing UX as a player

What is going on in Spain? What airlines are doing and what is their current status?

- Swiftair still flies pax flights on behalf of UX between PMI and IBZ. All other flights are cargo.
- IB and UX are flying some of their planes with cargo only, both in the hold and in the cabin.
- Wamos Air and Privilege Style are keeping themselves busy by flying repatriation flights all around the world, as well as some cargo flights only.

What aviation? I could count the number of planes in the sky on the fingers of one hand...

Isolate the sick and the elder, that's it. They are destroying this country's economy with this quarantine.

aircatalonia wrote:

What aviation? I could count the number of planes in the sky on the fingers of one hand...

Isolate the sick and the elder, that's it. They are destroying this country's economy with this quarantine.

Do you a better idea to deal with this virus?

aircatalonia wrote:

What aviation? I could count the number of planes in the sky on the fingers of one hand...

Isolate the sick and the elder, that's it. They are destroying this country's economy with this quarantine.

From where you know excatly who is sick ? I and maybe nobody don`t know ! Without this quarantine Spaine will fall in a deep hole.

The Government has recently “forced” UX to provide connectivity among the Balearic Islands and Binter to continue to do so in the Canaries with an increased operation.

Only half of the seats could be put on sale so the minimum distance among passengers can be met. But I highly doubt they reach that figure.

Air Nostrum (mainly dba Iberia Regional) has stopped flying as well as CanaryFly

aircatalonia wrote:

What aviation? I could count the number of planes in the sky on the fingers of one hand...

Isolate the sick and the elder, that's it. They are destroying this country's economy with this quarantine.

Yes let's go business as usual and give this virus a free pass on the rest of your countryman. Wake up man and have a good look around you and the rest of the world for that matter.

Curious if the current crises has an effect on the UX deal with IAG. I don’t think UX is worth the same as two months ago.

IWMBH wrote:

Curious if the current crises has an effect on the UX deal with IAG. I don’t think UX is worth the same as two months ago.

Do you think IAG is worth the same as 2 months ago?

"Isolate the sick and the elder, that's it. They are destroying this country's economy with this quarantine."
And comments like these are how we got to where we are at...

Now on to the aviation topic; Thanks for the post Embajador3!
I believe that IB is also flying between the mainland and the Canaries. I have a big question that might be too early to be asked: How will airlines restart service? I can't start to imagine the logistics of retraining staff, re-check airplanes for airworthiness, reschedule canceled passengers.
Regarding UX and IB, it might not be so much a matter the price but whether IAG has the even a minimum capability at all now to absorb UX when dealing with so much on its plate.

Looks like the Canary Islands may get a slow return of flights with strict restrictions sooner then the rest of Spain. It all depends on how things pan out.


Canary Islands could be first to come out of Covid-19 lockdown if ‘positive trend’ continues

www.euroweeklynews.com/2020/04/02/canar ... continues/

Kadish wrote:

IWMBH wrote:

Curious if the current crises has an effect on the UX deal with IAG. I don’t think UX is worth the same as two months ago.

Do you think IAG is worth the same as 2 months ago?

Nope, but IAG is the one spending the money. So, the question is if they still interested and if so, if they want and can to spend a billion dollars on UX.

IWMBH wrote:

Kadish wrote:

IWMBH wrote:

Curious if the current crises has an effect on the UX deal with IAG. I don’t think UX is worth the same as two months ago.

Do you think IAG is worth the same as 2 months ago?

Nope, but IAG is the one spending the money. So, the question is if they still interested and if so, if they want and can to spend a billion dollars on UX.

I think they will be interested,planes,routes,slots,less competition..but not sure if they will have the money

Kadish wrote:

[...] I think they will be interested,planes,routes,slots,less competition..but not sure if they will have the money

I do not want to be rude and I'm sorry to say so but this kind of scenario is completely obsolete now. We are facing the greatest global economic depression ever. Well, some fit surviving aviation companies might grab some bankrupt's assets for peanuts.

I'm guessing IAG will have to decide between its guarantee for not buying UX and an outright takeover. If they choose to exit and walk away from the deal, I suspect the price tag could come down. I expect that the deal will happen.

In addition to Air Europa, I cannot see a lot of future in Volotea and specially Air Nostrum.

Already before COVID, Air Nostrum was in a tricky position as Iberia was less reliant on them (because of taking over Air Europa). That is why they launched all those crazy routes (Pamplona-Valencia, Vigo-Fuerteventura, really whatever) which now will never happen. The only thing going for them is that they have smaller planes which will be more adequate for the new reality.

Volotea is not any different. They flew a lot of "thin" routes in Europe which do not make any sense anymore.

oldJoe wrote:

From where you know excatly who is sick ? I and maybe nobody don`t know ! Without this quarantine Spaine will fall in a deep hole.

Flanker7 wrote:

Yes let's go business as usual and give this virus a free pass on the rest of your countryman. Wake up man and have a good look around you and the rest of the world for that matter.

Aircatalonia is a anti-Spanish poster here. Everything that happens in Catalonia, Spain is responsible for it. Interestingly many Catalan nationalists keep this mentality as today (e.g. some towns in Catalonia rejected help from the Spanish Army... because it is Spanish). That people is mentality sick and completely brainwashed, so it is not bother to discuss anything with them. Lost cases.

Do we have any information about Evelop, Air Plus Ultra, Gowair, Vueling, UX Express, IB Express, Galastair, Air Horizont, Alba Star...?

SCQ83 wrote:

In addition to Air Europa, I cannot see a lot of future in Volotea and specially Air Nostrum.

Already before COVID, Air Nostrum was in a tricky position as Iberia was less reliant on them (because of taking over Air Europa). That is why they launched all those crazy routes (Pamplona-Valencia, Vigo-Fuerteventura, really whatever) which now will never happen. The only thing going for them is that they have smaller planes which will be more adequate for the new reality.

Volotea is not any different. They flew a lot of "thin" routes in Europe which do not make any sense anymore.

Care to add sources to your numerous claims? I see your personal belief, but don't provide anything substantial (numbers) to support them.

Embajador3 wrote:

SCQ83 wrote:

In addition to Air Europa, I cannot see a lot of future in Volotea and specially Air Nostrum.

Already before COVID, Air Nostrum was in a tricky position as Iberia was less reliant on them (because of taking over Air Europa). That is why they launched all those crazy routes (Pamplona-Valencia, Vigo-Fuerteventura, really whatever) which now will never happen. The only thing going for them is that they have smaller planes which will be more adequate for the new reality.

Volotea is not any different. They flew a lot of "thin" routes in Europe which do not make any sense anymore.

Care to add sources to your numerous claims? I see your personal belief, but don't provide anything substantial (numbers) to support them.

I too would like to see data to backup. Volotea in particular. They have a cost structure to allow parking aircraft. Now if someone us saying they will have to redistribute their routes, I agree. Like Allegiant, they will restart cherry picking routes with good yield matching frequency to demand.

I personally think the Volotea and Allegiant models of frequency to demand will grow tremendously in the restart.

Lightsaber

There is no way I see the IAG acquisition of UX being completed without a major renegotiation of terms.
IAG needs to be conserving cash under the current circumstances. The
UX is not worth anywhere near 1.1 billion at the moment.
I can see the transaction becoming a ~400 million all/mostly stock deal instead. Globalia can sell the shares later.

usflyer msp wrote:

There is no way I see the IAG acquisition of UX being completed without a major renegotiation of terms.
IAG needs to be conserving cash under the current circumstances. The
UX is not worth anywhere near 1.1 billion at the moment.
I can see the transaction becoming a ~400 million all/mostly stock deal instead. Globalia can sell the shares later.

Yes, I agree. I don't even think that UX will be in the same healthy condition at the end of 2020, as it once was back in 2019.

Here are some news regarding some airports in Spain. Links are only in Spanish. I hope that you find them interesting.

https://www.lavozdegalicia.es/noticia/v ... 689441.htm
https://es.statista.com/estadisticas/11 ... en-espana/
https://elpais.com/economia/2020-03-26/ ... un-97.html

AENA has closed 8 airports:

- A Coruña LCG
- Almería LEI
- Asturias OVD
- Granada-Jaén GRX
- Murcia RMU
- Pamplona PNA
- Santander SDR
- Vigo VGO

Not sure whether OPO is also closed; it seems there are no commercial flights operating from there.

Do we know where IB and UX are parking the fleets? I am assuming MAD but I have not been able to find pictures.

Here is the current status on the Spanish airports
http://www.aena.es/csee/Satellite?Langu ... enaInforma (English)

I just read this on the internet (link only in Spanish): https://www.tourinews.es/resumen-de-pre ... 8_102.html

It basicaly says that Iberia (IAG) won´t be asking for loans to the Spanish goverment, but might make use of the means to secure quick financing backed by the goverment, as a way to help companies fund their expenses during this crisis. Globalia (owner of UX - Air Europa) might however have to ask for financial support as it is most affected by the fall in traffic to the usual hotspots in Spain, Caribbean and South America. It secured a loan from the banks of €130 million. Both companies have temporarely laid off most of its staff, and management have taken up to 50% off their salaries.
It is also worth noting that Globalia was about to merge with the Barceló group - Avoris (owner of Evelop Airlines). Both companies have since chaged the details of the deal, where Barceló group will have controlling power over the resulting company.
https://elpais.com/economia/2020-04-08/ ... viaje.html (link in Spanish).

himarhernandez wrote:

Do we know where IB and UX are parking the fleets? I am assuming MAD but I have not been able to find pictures.

Here is some information for you:
https://www.elindependiente.com/economi ... s-parados/

Most are parked in MAD and BCN, but I guess VLC (main base of Air Nostrum) and PMI (important base for UX and other smaller spanish airlines) must have many planes stored there too. Teruel (TEV) could also hold some house some larger aircraft of Spanish airlines, but I only guess.

Flights From Peninsular To Lanzarote Reduced To One Per Week

For the remainder of the lockdown period, there will be only one flight per week from the mainland – a weekly flight from Madrid, which is necessary to bring the mail and other freight and supplies to the island. Passengers are only allowed on the flights if they can demonstrate a valid reason for travel during the lockdown. Passenger numbers between the mainland and The Canary Islands fell from over 10,000 at this time last year, to just over 200 last week.

https://lanzaroteinformation.co.uk/lanz ... f-week-15/

First ever flight between China and Canary Islands landed at LPA today after its non stop PVG-LPA.
It was operated by a Plus Ultra A346. EC - NFQ.