Irish low-cost airline Ryanair remains interested in expanding its investments in Spain with the acquisition of more slots (take-off and landing permits) at Madrid and Barcelona airports, CEO Michael O’Leary confirmed Friday.
“We are very interested in slots in Barcelona and Madrid. But IAG is very interested that we have no more slots in Barcelona or Madrid,” the executive explained at a meeting with the media in Dublin.
→ Ryanair launches summer 2024 schedule with more than 40 million seats for Spain
According to O’Leary, the Spanish-British group IAG – parent company of Iberia, British Airways, Vueling, Aer Lingus and Level – is designing an operation, which he described as a “remedial package”, whereby it will give those slots to “Volaris and other airlines”.
“Then in a couple of years Volaris will buy Volaris and get the slots back. So yes, we are looking for more takeoff and landing permits in Madrid and Barcelona, but I don’t think we will get them,” the executive lamented.
Ryanair, Europe’s leading low-cost carrier, had previously indicated that Iberia’s acquisition of Air Europa, still in process, should result in the freeing up of slots at some airports, so that other airlines would put more capacity in Spain and not take it to other competing countries.
With information from EFE
Related Topics
Indian Regulator States Inspections of Air India’s Boeing 787 Fleet Revealed No Major Safety Issues
Paris Air Show: Vietjet Signs MoU for Purchase of 100 Airbus A321neo Aircraft
Cathay Pacific Inaugurates Direct Flights Between Hong Kong and Munich
Paris Air Show: ANA Holdings Expands Fleet with 27 New Airbus A321neo and A321XLR Aircraft

Plataforma Informativa de Aviación Comercial con 13 años de trayectoria.