Air Europa


Air Europa Líneas Aéreas, S.A.U., branded as Air Europa is the third-largest Spanish airline after Iberia and Vueling. The airline is headquartered in Llucmajor, Mallorca, Spain, and has its main hub at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport with secondary focus cities at Palma de Mallorca Airport and Tenerife North Airport.
Air Europa flies to over 44 destinations around Spain, Europe, South America, North America, the Caribbean, Morocco, and Tunisia. The airline is 100% owned by Globalia, a travel and tourism company managed by Juan José Hidalgo and operates domestic, medium and long-haul flights. Since September 2007 Air Europa has been a member of the Skyteam alliance.
In November 2019, it was announced that Air Europa would be acquired by the International Airlines Group.

History

Air Europa started in 1986 as part of the British ILG-Air Europe Group and 75% owned by Spanish banks. It originally had a similar livery to Air Europe but with Air Europa titles and its aircraft were registered in Spain. It flew holiday charters from Mediterranean resorts and European cities using Boeing 737-300s and Boeing 757s. It was the first Spanish private company to operate national scheduled flights.
When parent company ILG ceased trading in 1991 Air Europa continued profitably with a larger fleet of Boeing 737s and 757s. It signed a franchise agreement with Iberia in January 1998, but this has since been dissolved. It is now owned by Globalia Corporación Empresarial S.A.
At the end of the 1990s, Boeing 737-800 jets were introduced along with a new livery. In June 2005, it was announced Air Europa was among four future associate members of the SkyTeam alliance, due to join by 2006. However, the joining date was postponed, and it did not become a member until 1 September 2007. Air Europa was the parent company for Air Dominicana, the new flag carrier of the Dominican Republic, until bankruptcy was declared on 21 September 2009. Air Europa retired its last Boeing 767 on 13 April 2012.
On 22 May 2019, the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil granted Air Europa permission to operate domestic flights in the country. This is the first time a foreign company is granted this authorisation, after Brazilian laws were changed to allow full foreign ownership of domestic airlines. As of June 2019, no details are available yet about Air Europa's future domestic operations in Brazil, a market which the airline already serves with international flights from Madrid to Salvador and Recife.
On 4 November 2019, Iberia, British Airways & Vueling parent IAG announced its €1 billion acquisition of Air Europa in cash from Globalia, the deal should close in the first half of 2020.
Air Europa operates 66 aircraft and generated a €100 million operating profit in 2018.
The brand will be retained initially within Iberia, IAG expects a return on investment by the fourth year, with full synergies by 2025: intra-group codeshares, Madrid timing adjustments, sales and loyalty programmes alignment.
The synergy could propel the Madrid hub into a rival to Paris, London and Frankfurt, and may lead the Europe to the Caribbean and to Latin America markets, also linked to Asia.

Destinations

Air Europa operates tour services between northern and western Europe and holiday resorts in the Canary Islands and Balearic Islands. It also operates domestic scheduled services and long-haul scheduled services to North America and South America from Madrid. Its main base is Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport.

Codeshare agreements

, Air Europa has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

Current fleet

As of June 2020, the Air Europa fleet consists of the following aircraft:

Historical fleet

Air Europa previously operated the following aircraft:

AircraftIntroducedRetiredNotes
Airbus A340-20020052007
ATR 4219961997
Boeing 737-30019862004
Boeing 737-40019942006
Boeing 737-60020032004
Boeing 757-20019871998
Boeing 767-20019962001
Boeing 767-300ER20002012
British Aerospace ATP19962001
Embraer 19520082017operated by Air Europa Express