Vueling

Vueling is a Spanish low-cost airline headquartered in Viladecans, in the Greater Barcelona area. It is an operating company of International Airlines Group (IAG), alongside brands and airlines including British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus. The carrier primarily serves short- and medium-haul markets linking Spain with destinations across Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean, while also maintaining bases outside Spain. The airline was established on 10 February 2004 and began flying on 1 July 2004 with a Barcelona–Ibiza service. Its initial operation used two Airbus A320 aircraft and connected Barcelona with Brussels, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca and Paris. The name combines vuelo, the Spanish word for flight, with the English suffix “-ing.” From the beginning, Vueling positioned itself as a low-cost operator with a strong Barcelona focus, using the city as its principal hub and building a broad network of leisure and metropolitan routes. Vueling experienced financial and governance difficulties in 2007. Two profit warnings were issued, senior directors and the chairman left, and trading in the company’s shares was temporarily suspended. Barbara Cassani, previously associated with the UK low-cost airline Go, became chairman, after which the company undertook a restructuring program. Vueling subsequently returned to profitability in 2009. A major turning point came through its combination with Clickair. Vueling and Clickair announced their intention to merge in 2008, with Iberia serving as the industrial partner. European competition authorities required remedies, including the release of airport slots on routes where the combined airline could have held a strong position. The transaction was completed on 15 July 2009, and Clickair aircraft and services were progressively placed under the Vueling brand. Alex Cruz, formerly associated with Clickair, became Vueling’s chief executive. The enlarged airline became Spain’s second-largest carrier by passenger volume in 2009 and served almost 50 destinations. Vueling expanded its geographic footprint during the 2010s. It opened or announced bases at Toulouse, Amsterdam, Rome, Florence and Brussels, with Rome Fiumicino becoming an important secondary hub. The airline also added aircraft and routes from Barcelona and other bases. Some bases and routes were later closed as part of network restructuring, including Brussels, Catania and Palermo in 2016. Vueling’s route portfolio has continued to evolve in response to demand, airport economics, competitive conditions and operational constraints. IAG became Vueling’s controlling shareholder in 2013 after improving its offer for the remaining shares. IAG combined its stake with Iberia’s existing holding to reach a 90.51 percent shareholding, while Vueling continued to operate as a standalone company within the group. The airline’s chief executive reports to IAG leadership, but Vueling retains its own operating identity, fleet and commercial proposition. Vueling operates an Airbus narrow-body fleet and has historically focused on the A319 and A320 families. Its Vueling Club loyalty program uses Avios and connects the airline with other IAG programs and selected partner airlines. Codeshare relationships have included Aer Lingus, British Airways, Iberia, LEVEL, LATAM Brasil, Qatar Airways and TUI Airways. In 2019, the airline carried more than 34 million passengers, according to the cited reference material. As described in the reference material, it served 122 destinations in Africa, Asia and Europe in 2021. The brand remains active and is principally associated with affordable point-to-point air travel, dense connectivity from Barcelona, and extensive European leisure and city-pair coverage. Its future fleet plans include aircraft from IAG’s order for Boeing 737 MAX jets, which would represent a move beyond Vueling’s traditional all-Airbus fleet if implemented.

Vueling was founded on 10 February 2004 and started commercial operations on 1 July of that year with a Barcelona–Ibiza flight. Its opening fleet consisted of two Airbus A320s, and the first network connected Barcelona with Brussels, Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca and Paris Charles de Gaulle. The brand name was formed from the Spanish word vuelo and the English ending “-ing.” The young airline encountered serious commercial and governance problems in 2007. Apax Partners sold its then 21 percent interest, and Vueling issued two profit warnings. The chairman and two directors resigned amid disagreements about commercial strategy, and trading in the company’s shares was temporarily suspended. Barbara Cassani joined as chairman in September 2007. A restructuring program followed, and the airline reported its first profit in the middle of 2009. Vueling’s most important early transformation was its merger with Clickair. The two Spanish low-cost carriers announced the proposed combination in June 2008. The transaction was intended to improve scale, strengthen the combined airline’s competitive position in Spain and mitigate the effects of high fuel costs, with Iberia acting as the main industrial partner. European regulators examined the effect on competition and required the release of slots at Barcelona and other airports on a number of affected routes. The merger closed on 15 July 2009. Clickair aircraft and services were rebranded as Vueling, Alex Cruz became chief executive, and the enlarged business became Spain’s second-largest airline by 2009 passenger numbers. Expansion continued during the next decade. Vueling announced bases at Toulouse and Amsterdam for 2011, and later established operations at Rome and Florence. Rome Fiumicino developed into a major secondary hub, while Brussels was added as another base in 2013. The company expanded its Barcelona operation and added routes throughout Spain, Europe and the Mediterranean. Some routes were withdrawn and several bases were closed as the airline adjusted its network; Brussels, Catania and Palermo were among the bases shut during restructuring in 2016. Toulouse also subsequently closed as a Vueling base. The airline used partnerships and marketing collaborations to build brand visibility. In 2009 and earlier summer seasons it worked with MTV, including specially painted Airbus aircraft and related onboard styling. One aircraft later carried a design associated with French DJ and producer David Guetta. These special liveries were temporary and the MTV collaboration later ended. IAG’s takeover unfolded in 2012 and 2013. Iberia already owned 45.85 percent of Vueling, while IAG offered to acquire the remaining shares. Vueling’s board initially opposed the offer as undervaluing the company, but IAG raised the proposal from €7 to €9.25 per share in March 2013. The board then recommended acceptance. On 23 April 2013, IAG obtained control by combining its recently acquired stake with Iberia’s existing holding, reaching 90.51 percent. Vueling remained a standalone airline within IAG rather than being merged into Iberia. Vueling replaced its original Punto loyalty program with Vueling Club in October 2017. Vueling Club is based on Avios and allows members to earn and redeem rewards on Vueling and participating IAG airlines, with additional access to selected oneworld partner award travel. The airline also developed codeshare relationships with several IAG and external carriers. The route network continued to change in the late 2010s and 2020s. Services to several airports were cancelled or suspended, while new links included Paris–Dubrovnik and Seville–Marrakech. In December 2024, Vueling announced a planned Florence–Brussels service for April 2025 using Airbus A319 aircraft. The company has historically operated an all-Airbus A320-family fleet, but IAG’s 2022 order for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft was subsequently identified as intended in part for Vueling. If delivered and deployed as described, those aircraft would introduce a second narrow-body type to the fleet. In July 2025, the removal of a group of Jewish teenagers and a chaperone from a Valencia–Paris Orly flight prompted complaints and political attention. Vueling said the group had repeatedly behaved in a disruptive manner and posed a safety concern after crew warnings were disregarded. Allegations of antisemitic conduct were denied by the airline. The Spanish Aviation Safety and Security Agency later concluded, according to the cited account, that the airline’s action was reasonable and compliant with official regulations and found no evidence of antisemitic motivation.

1. 2024Florence–Brussels route announced

   Vueling announced a planned Florence–Brussels service for launch in April 2025.

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2. 2017Vueling Club replaces Punto

   The airline introduced Vueling Club, an Avios-based loyalty program, replacing its earlier Punto scheme.

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3. 2013IAG takes control

   IAG acquired control of Vueling through a combined holding with Iberia, while preserving Vueling as a standalone operating company.

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4. 2012Rome becomes a planned operating base

   Vueling announced Rome as a new base, which launched in March 2012 and later became a major secondary hub.

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5. 2011Amsterdam and Toulouse bases open

   Vueling expanded its non-Spanish base structure with operations at Amsterdam and Toulouse, although Toulouse later closed.

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6. 2009Clickair merger completed

   Clickair was absorbed into Vueling following regulatory review, creating a significantly larger Spanish low-cost airline.

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7. 2007Financial warnings and management restructuring

   Two profit warnings, leadership departures and a temporary share-trading suspension preceded a restructuring program.

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8. 2004Vueling founded and begins operations

   Vueling was established in February and operated its first commercial flight, from Barcelona to Ibiza, in July.

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Low-cost airline combining affordable fares with extensive Barcelona connectivity and a broad European and Mediterranean network.

• Scheduled passenger flightsAir transport2004

  Vueling’s core offering is scheduled short- and medium-haul passenger transportation. The network is centered on Barcelona and includes domestic Spanish routes as well as links to European, North African and Mediterranean destinations. The airline uses a low-cost operating model with separately priced ancillary options and a strong emphasis on point-to-point travel.

• Vueling ClubLoyalty program2017

  Vueling Club is the airline’s loyalty program, introduced in 2017 in place of Punto. Members can earn and redeem Avios for Vueling flights and selected services involving other IAG airlines, including British Airways, Iberia, Aer Lingus and LEVEL. The program also connects with selected oneworld partner award travel.

• Airbus A320-family operationsFleet platform2004

  Vueling’s principal operating platform has consisted of Airbus A319 and A320-family narrow-body aircraft. These aircraft support the carrier’s dense European network and allow relatively flexible deployment between domestic, metropolitan and leisure routes. IAG’s planned Boeing 737 MAX allocation could eventually make the fleet mixed-type.

• 2009Vueling and MTV collaboration

  Europe

  Vueling partnered with MTV for seasonal brand activity, including specially designed aircraft liveries and related onboard styling. Designs were associated with Custo Dalmau, and a later aircraft design referenced David Guetta.

  Outcome. The special liveries were temporary and the collaboration subsequently ended.

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• 2022Plan future Boeing 737 MAX allocationStrategy

  IAG placed an order for Boeing 737 MAX aircraft intended to support fleet growth within its airline portfolio.

  What changed. The order was identified as intended for Vueling, including 50 aircraft and 100 options according to the cited reference material.

  Aftermath. If delivered and deployed as described, the aircraft would expand Vueling beyond its traditional all-Airbus narrow-body fleet.

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• 2017Replace Punto with Vueling ClubOther

  Vueling updated its loyalty proposition and aligned it more closely with the Avios ecosystem used by IAG airlines.

  What changed. Vueling launched Vueling Club and retired the Punto program.

  Aftermath. Customers gained Avios earning and redemption functionality across Vueling and participating partner airlines.

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• 2013IAG acquisition of controlM&A

  IAG sought full control of Vueling after Iberia already held a substantial stake. Vueling initially viewed the first offer as undervaluing the airline.

  What changed. IAG increased its offer to €9.25 per share and combined its holding with Iberia’s stake.

  Aftermath. IAG reached a 90.51 percent shareholding and kept Vueling as a standalone operating company within the group.

  Offer price per share. €7 → €9.25 (2012–2013 acquisition process)

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• 2008Agree to merge with ClickairM&A

  Vueling and Clickair sought greater scale in Spain and improved resilience against competition and high fuel costs.

  What changed. The companies pursued a merger with Iberia as industrial partner and accepted competition remedies involving airport slots.

  Aftermath. The merger closed in July 2009 and Clickair operations were rebranded under Vueling.

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• 2025Removal of Jewish teenagers from flightControversy

  A group of 52 Jewish teenagers and a chaperone were removed from a Valencia–Paris Orly flight. Critics alleged antisemitic treatment, while Vueling said the passengers’ repeated disruptive conduct created a safety concern. The Spanish aviation safety authority later found the airline had acted reasonably and according to official regulations, with no evidence of antisemitic motivation in the cited account.

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• 2016Large-scale delays and cancellationsControversy

  Extensive delays and cancellations during the first weekend of July led Spanish authorities to investigate the airline’s operations. Vueling subsequently cancelled several routes and closed bases as part of restructuring.

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• 2016Spanish authorities investigate widespread Vueling delays and cancellations

  A period of extensive delays and cancellations during July prompted an investigation by Spanish authorities and subsequent network restructuring.

  RegulationOther
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• 2013IAG gains control of Vueling

  IAG increased its offer and combined its holding with Iberia’s stake, obtaining control while retaining Vueling as a standalone operating company.

  M&A
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• 2009Vueling and Clickair merger completed

  The merger brought Clickair’s aircraft and operations under the Vueling brand after regulatory review and required competition remedies.

  M&A
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1. Vueling
2. Vueling official website