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| BA owner IAG launches new long-haul airline Level | BA owner IAG launches new long-haul airline Level |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The owner of British Airways is launching a new long-haul budget airline based in Barcelona. | The owner of British Airways is launching a new long-haul budget airline based in Barcelona. |
| IAG said the new airline, Level, would initially fly to Los Angeles, Oakland, Buenos Aires and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from June. | IAG said the new airline, Level, would initially fly to Los Angeles, Oakland, Buenos Aires and Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic from June. |
| The airline will use Iberia crew and two new Airbus A330 planes. | The airline will use Iberia crew and two new Airbus A330 planes. |
| Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said Level would become its fifth airline brand alongside Aer Lingus, BA, Iberia and Vueling. | Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said Level would become its fifth airline brand alongside Aer Lingus, BA, Iberia and Vueling. |
| "Barcelona is Vueling's home base and this will allow customers to connect from Vueling's extensive European network onto Level's long-haul flights," he said. | "Barcelona is Vueling's home base and this will allow customers to connect from Vueling's extensive European network onto Level's long-haul flights," he said. |
| The company will look to offer Level flights from other European cities. "We're really excited about the opportunities for expansion," Mr Walsh added. | The company will look to offer Level flights from other European cities. "We're really excited about the opportunities for expansion," Mr Walsh added. |
| Fares start from 99 euros/$149 each way. | Fares start from 99 euros/$149 each way. |
| Travel writer and broadcaster Simon Calder said the new airline was good news for travellers as more competition would put pressure on fares. | |
| He said IAG's move echoed Lufthansa's decision to offer flights to destinations in the Caribbean and Asia on Eurowings, its low-cost offshoot. | |
| It was also an attempt to counter the challenge posed by low-cost newcomers such as Norwegian Airlines. | |
| As well as operating Boeing 787 services from London Gatwick airport to cities such as Orlando, Las Vegas and New York, Norwegian plans to offer direct flights to the US using smaller Boeing 737 planes from the likes of Belfast and Edinburgh. | |
| Mr Calder said that move would put even more pressure on traditional airlines such as BA and Iberia. | |
| Shares in IAG were flat at 571.1p on Friday but have risen by almost 30% since the start of the year, valuing the company at more than £12bn. |