Iberia Express

Finnair’s new short-haul model has to be ‘ruthlessly’ low-cost, says CEO Vehviläinen

This is the year of Europe’s legacy carriers finally addressing their unsustainably unprofitable short-haul networks, and the answers so far have primarily been to strip costs out of existing models to make the carriers competitive against low-cost rivals. But Finnair’s decision to outsource its short-haul flying to a joint-venture partner suggests hybrid models can only achieve so much savings, while the structure of legacy carriers has inherent higher costs that cannot be taken out. Starting afresh becomes another, better, solution.

And a tabula rasa today in Europe, or at least Scandinavia, cannot be used to launch a hybrid carrier, Finnair CEO Mika Vehviläinen tells CAPA. Rather, when Finnair’s new short-haul operation commences in 1H2013, it must be “ruthlessly” low-cost, Mr Vehviläinen said. Yet this poses quandaries for Finnair’s business model of efficiently linking Europe with Asia as long-haul passengers, premium in particular, will be subject to LCC-style service on onward connections.

Conversely, lower-cost feeder flights could make Finnair’s long-haul services more price competitive.

Iberia Express launches as Europe’s latest salvo to bring short-haul model to profitability

New carrier Iberia Express has launched services despite its website not launching until later this week, and even then bookings will be accepted for travel only as early as 10-Apr-2012. The unusual arrangement is indicative of what Iberia Express is: a wholly-owned subsidiary of Iberia that will replace some of mainline Iberia’s short- and medium-haul routes. In its initial weeks it is taking over flights sold as Iberia, but passenger perceptions will be few; service is almost identical to Iberia – but with staff employed at market rates, drastically cutting costs.

Iberia for some years now has been in dispute with its over-paid staff – some of its short-haul pilots earn more than British Airways’ long-haul pilots – a problem that has compounded Iberia’s short-haul network which faces intense competition from low-cost carriers amidst rising fuel prices. The struggle of a European legacy carrier’s traditional short-haul network is not unique to Iberia and across the continent many alternative models are being explored, with none yet to emerge as successful and resistant to challenges.

IAG reports strong result despite higher fuel prices. But Iberia Express fills the windscreen

International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) reported a strong FY2011 result with profit more than doubling year-on-year despite its fuel expense increasing nearly 30%. British Airways led the strong result while Iberia still struggled. The 2012 outlook for the Group remains uncertain due to weak European markets and labour unrest in addition to rising fuel expenses.

IAG reported full year operating profit of EUR485 million and net profit of EUR527 million. Fuel expenses rose 29.7% to EUR5.1 billion. Passenger revenue outgrew capacity increases with 11% higher revenue and capacity increase of 7.1%. Unit passenger revenue rose 3.6% with overall unit revenue up 3.1% while premium traffic saw good growth of 5.7% and outgrew non-premium revenue growth. Despite increases on the passenger side of the business, cargo revenue remained constant.

Vueling grows its low cost Barcelona hub role as Iberia Express focusses on Madrid premium traffic

Vueling's growth this year, the largest since its merger with rival Clickair in 2009, underscores the airline's role as a cost-effective hub carrier with connecting flights at Barcelona's El Prat Airport, a status Iberia concluded it could not achieve in Barcelona, largely pulling out of the market in favour of specially-formed LCC Clickair. After the Clickair-Vueling merger, Iberia retained part ownership (46%, now controlled by Iberia parent International Consolidated Airline Group) while the merged carrier continued its focus on Barcelona. The partnership appears to be working well for both Iberia and Vueling.

That focus has been re-affirmed by the airline's intention to grow summer destinations served from El Prat by a further 10, bringing the total to 70, 23 more than served last year, and representing a 17% seat increase at El Prat. The growth is supported by the addition of four A320s and a single A319.

IAG to establish new LCC subsidiary Iberia Express

International Airlines Group (IAG), the parent company of British Airways and Iberia, will launch a new subsidiary called Iberia Express from summer 2012 in a bid to boost margins on Spanish short- and medium-haul services. Iberia Express is being established to provide a more competitive offering in the Spanish domestic and European market amid rising challenges from the high-speed rail network and LCCs, notably Ryanair and easyJet, which both have bases at Madrid Barajas and Barcelona El Prat.

Ryanair and easyJet operate large and growing domestic and European networks, and have overtaken Iberia as the two largest operators of services between Europe and Spain. Iberia has found it a challenge to compete with these carriers in light of its high flight crew costs and lower productivity.

The LCC strategy is also part of efforts by IAG to reduce the carrier’s cost base and return Iberia to profitability.