Vueling and Clickair to merge
Spanish carriers Vueling and Clickair have finalised talks to merge following intense competition in the market and spiralling fuel costs.
Vueling will absorb Clickair, which is 80% owned by flag carrier Iberia, through a capital increase and remain based in Barcelona.
With a crowded Spanish airline market, improved high speed rail links between major domestic hubs and rising oil prices, the move will stabilise an erratic period for the carriers. The new airline will have 50 aircraft and 10.7 million passengers and as the third largest airline in Spain will be better equipped to take on the likes of Easyjet and Ryanair who have been building up significant business to and from Spain.
The merger, which is still subject to competition commission approval, will see Iberia emerge as a major shareholder. Other sharehiolders include Nefinsa and Inversiones Hemisferio. It is thought Clickair chief executive officer Alex Cruz will head up the new carrier.
By Dinah Hatch
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026