Willie Walsh’s IAG has launched the latest salvo in its battle with low-cost competitor Norwegian with IAG’s no-frills Level airline announcing flights from Paris to Montreal, New York, Guadeloupe and Martinique.
The flights will be from Paris Orly – a hub for IAG’s Vueling airline – starting next July and follow the successful launch of services from Barcelona to North and South America.
Level said fares will start from €99 one way, when booked as a return trip, and tickets are now on sale at www.flylevel.com.
Level will base two Airbus A330-200 aircraft at Orly, each with 293 economy and 21 premium economy seats. Checked luggage (plus a free cabin bag), meals, seat selection and the latest movie releases will be complimentary for customers flying in premium economy. Those travelling in economy will have to pay extra, depending on what services they want.
It said there will be “super-high speed internet connectivity” with prices starting at €8.99.
Level’s Paris flights will be operated by staff who currently work for IAG’s French airline OpenSkies which is based at the airport. The OpenSkies brand will cease to operate at the end of next summer and all its staff will operate Level flights.
Willie Walsh with Level crew
Willie Walsh, IAG’s chief executive, said: “Level’s Barcelona operation has been an incredible success. Customers love it and Level will be profitable this year. Barcelona was always a first step and today we’re delighted to launch flights from our second European city with four exciting new routes from Paris.
“Like Barcelona, Orly is a Vueling hub which means that customers will be able to fly there from other parts of Europe to connect onto Level. We will also benefit from the local experience and knowledge of the OpenSkies team”.
Flights from Orly to New York will continue to operate under the OpenSkies brand until the end of summer 2018 and are available at www.ba.com/openskies
In Barcelona, Level will launch a new route to Boston on March 28, 2018. Flights will operate up to three times each week for the summer season. A third A330-200 aircraft will be added to the Barcelona fleet later in the summer providing the opportunity to expand its network further.
Level flies from Barcelona to Buenos Aires, San Francisco (Oakland) and Punta Cana with a summer service to Los Angeles.
