Iberia News
Iberia to sidestep unions with new low-cost airline
Iberia’s cabin crew are threatening strike action over plans to launch a new carrier this year that would pay crew lower wages. The new airline would employ some 350 staff and operate 14 aircraft, and is viewed as an attempt by the Spanish flag carrier to sidestep union resistance to cost cuts.
Profits tumble at Iberia as domestic demand falters
Spanish flag-carrier Iberia has reported a full-year loss for the first time in 13-years. The airline has been hit by volatile oil prices, falling demand for premium travel and a recession in domestic markets.
US authorities provisionally approve oneworld transatlantic tie-up
The American Department of Transport (DOT) has issued a tentative decision approving antitrust immunity for American Airlines and its oneworld partners, allowing the formation a global alliance. If granted final approval, the decision will allow the oneworld Alliance to join Star and SkyTeam – both of which have operated with antitrust immunity in the USA for some time – in the North American market.
BA, AA and Iberia transatlantic tie-up moves closer
The proposed transatlantic venture between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia has moved closer to securing regulatory approval from the European Commission.
Iberia and Amadeus extend full content agreement until December 2014
Amadeus, a global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry and Iberia, the leading airline in Spain and the European-Latin American market, have agreed to extend their full content agreement until 2014.
BA’s mushrooming pension deficit threatens Iberia merger
The odds of a merger between British Airways and Iberia have lengthened following news that the pension deficit of the British flag carrier has grown by £1.6bn over the past year. BA may now no longer be able to meet long-term payments to its entire workforce, which has been the main sticking point in the proposed tie-up with Iberia.
Iberia starts installing seats that convert into fully flat beds
Iberia is to replace the current lie-flat seat beds in its longhaul Business Plus cabins with upgraded versions that recline to a fully flat horizontal position.
Iberia passengers can check-in at Paddington train station in London
As of today, Iberia passengers flying from London Heathrow airport can check-in and print their boarding passes at Paddington train station in London before taking the Heathrow Express train to the airport.
BA and Iberia agree merger deal
British Airways and Spain’s Iberia have announced that they have reached a preliminary agreement for a merger following discussions at separate board meetings throughout yesterday.
Iberia threatened with more strikes
Unions representing Spanish airline Iberia’s cabin crew have revealed they will stage eight more days of strikes unless a pay agreement is reached.
Iberia plans new airline for short, medium haul flights
The Spanish national carrier Iberia has unveiled plans to create a new airline to handle its short- and medium- haul routes in an effort to reverse declining revenues, weak demand and mounting losses in the current economic crisis.
GOL and Iberia sign code-share agreement
GOL Linhas Aereas Inteligentes S.A. (Bovespa: GOLL4 and NYSE: GOL), the largest low-cost and low-fare airline in Latin America, and Iberia, Spain’s largest air transport group, announced today that the companies have signed a code-share agreement.
EU questions BA-AA-Iberia venture
The European Commission has voiced its concerns over the proposed transatlantic venture between British Airways, American Airlines and Iberia. These include the disproportionate hold the three airlines would have on key Europe-to-US routes from Heathrow to Miami and Dallas.
BA/Iberia tie-up moves a step closer
The rallying stock market could prove the catalyst for a long-awaited tie up between British Airways and Iberia. The surge in stocks over the past few weeks could help ease the Spanish flag carrier’s fears about BA’s £2.1 billion pension deficit and lead to the long-awaited link-up. The Spanish have long been concerned about the massive deficit, which could soar to nearer £3bn when the results of a revaluation of the fund are revealed next month.
Iberia to cut capacity to stem growing losses
Iberia has vowed to accelerate its cost-cutting programme after sliding further into the red over the second quarter. Jobs are set to go, aircraft withdrawn from its fleet and wages frozen as Spain’s largest carrier also warned that it would be heading for its first annual loss in a decade.
American Airlines hit by continuing losses
American Airlines has reported deepening quarterly losses for the second consecutive year, as weak demand and falling fares drove sales sharply lower.
Net quarterly losses, excluding non-recurring charges, sunk to $319m compared to a loss of $298m a year earlier. Group revenues in the second quarter fell 21 percent to $4.89bn and in the first six months by 18 percent to $9.7bn.
New Iberia chairman pledges to seal BA merger
The new chairman of Iberia has pledged to seal the proposed merger with British Airways. Antonio Vazquez Romero said that his aim was to close the deal between the Spanish and British flag carriers after almost a year of dragging.
Iberia chairman ousted to pave way for BA merger
Merger talks between British Airways and Iberia have been given a boost following the sudden departure of the Spanish flag carrier’s chairman. Fernando Conte has vacated the top job, with the official line that he wanted to step down before his 60th birthday next year. But according to company sources he was ousted because of a lack of progress in merger talks with BA.
Iberia heads into red for first time in 13 years
Spanish flag-carrier Iberia is heading for its first annual years in 13 years as a fall in business class traffic and a price war in economy erode margins.Chief executive Fernando Conte warned shareholders that passengers travelling business had fallen 20 percent year-on-year due to a sharp fall in business travel on its routes from Madrid to London and Latin America.
BA and Iberia merger talks stumble
Merger talks between British Airways and Iberia are making little headway despite reassurances from both sides of an imminent tie-up, according to sources within both airlines.The number of problems to be resolved before the merger can proceed is far bigger than the respective heads Willie Walsh and Fernando Conte have revealed. A deal is unlikely to be struck before the summer, reports the Times newspaper.
