Editing Vueling (section)

== History ==
===Early years===
Vueling was established on 10 February 2004 and commenced operations on 1 July 2004 with a flight between [[Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport|Barcelona]] and [[Ibiza Airport|Ibiza]]. The initial fleet consisted of two [[Airbus A320]] aircraft, based in Barcelona serving [[Brussels Airport|Brussels]], [[Ibiza Airport|Ibiza]], [[Palma de Mallorca Airport|Palma de Mallorca]] and [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris-CDG]].<ref name=history>{{cite web |url=http://www.vueling.com/EN/vueling/acerca_03a.php?language=EN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101210230403/http://www.vueling.com/EN/vueling/acerca_03a.php?language=EN |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-12-10 |title=The History of Vueling |publisher=Vueling.com |access-date=2011-12-08 }}</ref> The name Vueling was formed by combining the [[Spanish language|Spanish]] word ''[[:wikt:vuelo#Noun|vuelo]]'' (flight) with the [[English gerund]] suffix ''[[-ing]]''.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Vueling Launches Flight Service from Vienna to Rome |publisher=[[Vienna Airport]] |url=http://www.viennaairport.com/jart/prj3/news_press/uploads/db-con_def-uploads/va-news/E-22_2015.pdf |date=4 May 2015 |access-date=14 August 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906061543/http://www.viennaairport.com/jart/prj3/news_press/uploads/db-con_def-uploads/va-news/E-22_2015.pdf |archive-date=6 September 2015 }}</ref>

Initially, major shareholders of Vueling were [[Apax Partners]] (40%), Inversiones Hemisferio ([[Grupo Planeta]]) (30%), Vueling's management team (23%) and V.A. Investor ([[JetBlue Airways]]) (7%).{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} During its nascent stages, the company's general manager was Lázaro Ros, while Carlos Muñoz was CEO. In November 2007, Vueling appointed managing director of [[Spanair]] Lars Nygaard as CEO to replace Carlos Muñoz, who remained a member of the board of directors.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Madrid was added as the airline's second base in 2005, followed by its first base outside Spain at Paris CDG in 2007. [[San Pablo Airport|Seville]] followed in December 2009.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

===Financial concerns and management re-shuffle===
In 2007, Apax Partners sold its then-21% stake in the carrier in June of that year, followed by two profit warnings issued in August and October. Two company directors and the chairman resigned shortly before the second profit warning, citing differences over commercial strategy.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-tid.com/News-Home/Vueling-issues-second-profit-warning.aspx |title=Madrid-listed budget carrier Vueling has warned higher fuel costs and lower ticket prices could result in it reporting a loss this year |publisher=E-tid.com |date=2007-10-02 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430194454/http://www.e-tid.com/News-Home/Vueling-issues-second-profit-warning.aspx |archive-date=2012-04-30 }}</ref> Shares in the company were also temporarily suspended.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-tid.com/News-Home/Contrasting-fortunes-for-Vueling-and-Clickair.aspx |title=The Spanish stock market regulator CNMV has suspended trading in low-cost carrier Vueling's shares |publisher=E-tid.com |date=2007-10-01 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120430194509/http://www.e-tid.com/News-Home/Contrasting-fortunes-for-Vueling-and-Clickair.aspx |archive-date=2012-04-30 }}</ref> This led to [[Barbara Cassani]], former Chief Executive of UK low-cost airline [[Go Fly|Go]], joining Vueling as chairman of the board in September 2007. The airline then embarked on a restructuring exercise and posted its first profit in mid 2009.<ref>[http://www.shephard.co.uk/news/3424/vueling-completes-restructuring-reports-q2-operating-profit Vueling completes restructuring; reports Q2 operating profit]{{dead link|date=December 2011}}</ref>

===Vueling and Clickair merger===
In June 2008, Vueling and rival Spanish low-cost airline [[Clickair]] announced their intention to merge. The merger was designed to create a carrier better able to compete in the competitive Spanish airline market and mitigate high fuel costs with Iberia as the main industrial partner. While the new company would trade under the Vueling name, Clickair's Alex Cruz was named as chief executive.<ref name=merger>{{cite web |url=http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1215488627.html |title=Vueling to Merge With Clickair |publisher=News.airwise.com |date=2008-07-08 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120210213556/http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1215488627.html |archive-date=2012-02-10 }}</ref><ref name=travelmole>{{cite web |url=http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1137210.php |title=Vueling new airline name to UK. TravelMole. Phil Davies |publisher=Travelmole.com |date=2009-07-06 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724234105/http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1137210.php |archive-date=2010-07-24 }}</ref> The deal was subject to scrutiny and approval by European competition regulators, who were concerned that the merged airline would have a significant competitive advantage on around 19 routes. The regulators demanded the release of slots at Barcelona and other European airports as a condition of the merger.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/09/320899/iberia-clickair-vueling-surrender-slots-for-merger-approval.html |title=Iberia-Clickair-Vueling surrender slots for merger approval |work=Flight International |date=2009-01-09 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090710053845/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2009/01/09/320899/iberia-clickair-vueling-surrender-slots-for-merger-approval.html |archive-date=2009-07-10 }}</ref> On 15 July 2009, the merger of Vueling and [[Clickair]] was completed.<ref name="travelmole"/> The new merged airline operates under the Vueling brand, with Clickair flights and aircraft re-branded under the Vueling name. It became the second largest Spanish carrier, flying 8.2 million passengers in 2009<ref name=pax>{{cite web |url=http://www.vueling.com/investors/docs/traffic2007_2011_english.pdf |title=Vueling Passenger Statistics |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20110522123628/http://www.vueling.com/investors/docs/traffic2007_2011_english.pdf |archive-date=2011-05-22 }}</ref> to almost 50 destinations.

===Co-operation with MTV===
[[File:Vueling Airlines Airbus A320 Volpati-1.jpg|thumb|right|Vueling [[Airbus A320|Airbus A320-214]] in [[MTV]] Livery at [[Charles de Gaulle Airport|Paris-CDG]], France (2008)]]
In 2009, Vueling for the second year running co-operated with [[MTV]] during the summer season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.es/videos/vueling-by-mtv-394901/|title=Vueling by MTV|language=es|access-date=2011-12-16|date=2010-02-14|publisher=MTV|location=Spain|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120510175811/http://www.mtv.es/videos/vueling-by-mtv-394901/|archive-date=2012-05-10}}</ref> Two of Vueling's A320 aircraft (EC-KDG<ref>Lundgren, Johan (1996-2006). [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=EC-KDG Photo Search Results EC-KDG] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108175056/http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=EC-KDG |date=2016-01-08 }}. ''[[Airliners.net]]''. AirNav Systems LLC. URL accessed on 2011.</ref> and EC-KDH<ref name="eckdh">Lundgren, Johan (1996-2006). [http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=EC-KDH Photo Search Results EC-KDG] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108175056/http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=EC-KDH |date=2016-01-08 }}. ''[[Airliners.net]]''. AirNav Systems LLC. URL accessed on 2011.</ref>) were re-painted into MTV liveries with some MTV styling on-board too. The designs of both liveries were created by [[Custo Dalmau]] and both liveries were removed at the end of 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vueling.com/vueling/acerca_espiritu.php?language=EN |title=Vueling Cooperation with MTV |publisher=Vueling.com |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100805090522/http://www.vueling.com/vueling/acerca_espiritu.php?language=EN |archive-date=2010-08-05 }}</ref> In the summer season of 2010, EC-KDG<ref name="eckdh" /> had again been re-painted into an MTV livery, and in 2011, it was re-painted into a livery based on the [[Disc jockey|DJ]] and [[Record producer|producer]] [[David Guetta]]; the livery has since been removed and co-operation with MTV has since ended.{{citation needed|date=February 2023}}

===2010 onwards===
In November 2010, Vueling announced a new base at [[Toulouse Airport]] in France from April 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/11/09/349492/vueling-to-open-toulouse-base.html |title=Vueling announces base in Toulouse |work=Flight International |date=2010-11-09 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811123412/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/11/09/349492/vueling-to-open-toulouse-base.html |archive-date=2011-08-11 }}</ref> followed in December 2010 by the announcement of a new base in [[Amsterdam Airport Schiphol|Amsterdam]], also to open during April 2011. The Toulouse base opened on 23 April 2011, but has since closed.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.flylowcostairlines.org/2010/12/08/vueling-to-open-new-base-in-amsterdam/ |title=Vueling announces base in Amsterdam |publisher=Blog.flylowcostairlines.org |date=2010-12-08 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110812145743/http://blog.flylowcostairlines.org/2010/12/08/vueling-to-open-new-base-in-amsterdam/ |archive-date=2011-08-12 }}</ref>

In January 2011, further expansion was announced with Vueling adding a further nine aircraft to its fleet, including [[Airbus A319]] aircraft. Six Airbus A320s were delivered between April and June 2011, whilst the remaining two A320s were delivered by the end of 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.letstravelmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1076:vueling-ends-2011-with-nine-new-aircraft&catid=52:airlines-airports&Itemid=67 |title=New Vueling Aircraft |publisher=Letstravelmag.com |date=2011-01-21 |access-date=2011-12-08 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424023027/http://www.letstravelmag.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1076:vueling-ends-2011-with-nine-new-aircraft&catid=52:airlines-airports&Itemid=67 |archive-date=2012-04-24 }}</ref>

On 21 March 2012, it was announced by CEO Alex Cruz that [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome]] would be added as a new base. The base launched on 25 March 2012 with one aircraft based there: the airline has since expanded at Rome with numerous new destinations.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.adr.it/azn-notizie?p_p_id=3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-2&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp_nid=1049599&_3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp_redirect=%2fazn-notizie&_3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp_jspPage=%2fhtml%2fnews%2fdetails.jsp |title=Notizie |language=it |access-date=10 July 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150713032900/https://www.adr.it/azn-notizie?p_p_id=3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=normal&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-2&p_p_col_pos=1&p_p_col_count=2&_3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp_nid=1049599&_3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp_redirect=%2fazn-notizie&_3_WAR_newsportlet_INSTANCE_1JEp_jspPage=%2fhtml%2fnews%2fdetails.jsp |archive-date=13 July 2015 }}</ref> On 5 December 2012, Vueling announced the opening of a new base of operations in [[Florence Airport, Peretola|Florence]]: the carrier is to base one aircraft there and serve four new European destinations.<ref>{{Citation | title = Vueling | journal = Airliner World | pages = 7 | date = February 2013  }}</ref>  Ten months later, on 25 October 2013, Vueling launched [[Florence Airport, Peretola|Florence]]-Catania, its first domestic route in Italy.

Since November 2013, the airline has continued to expand from its [[airline hub|hub]] at Barcelona.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vueling.com/en/we-are-vueling/press-room/press-releases/corporate/vueling-network-to-expand-to-100-destinations-from-barcelona-el-prat-airport-in-2013/|title=Vueling network to expand to 100 destinations from Barcelona-El Prat Airport in 2013|access-date=10 July 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712141452/http://www.vueling.com/en/we-are-vueling/press-room/press-releases/corporate/vueling-network-to-expand-to-100-destinations-from-barcelona-el-prat-airport-in-2013|archive-date=12 July 2015}}</ref> On 6 November 2013, Vueling announced a new base with one aircraft in [[Brussels Airport|Brussels]], with seven new destinations from May 2014, in addition to the four previous routes from Brussels.{{citation needed|reason=Previously sourced to an Internet Message Board|date=May 2015}} Also in November 2013, Vueling announced an expansion of its base at [[Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport|Rome-Fiumicino]]. From mid-2014, 8 aircraft would be based there, operating more than 30 routes. This expansion meant Rome-Fiumicino would become Vueling's secondary hub, after Barcelona. In 2014, Vueling opened routes to Warsaw and Cracow in Poland, both of which were canceled in 2020.

During the first weekend of July 2016, Vueling had many delays and cancellations, which resulted in an investigation by the Spanish authorities.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.expansion.com/empresas/transporte/2016/07/04/577a28ad268e3e13048b457a.html |title=Vueling contrata 34 pilotos y alquila 6 aviones para atajar su crisis |language=es |access-date=2017-09-20 |date=2016-07-04 |publisher=Expansion |location=Spain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920142640/http://www.expansion.com/empresas/transporte/2016/07/04/577a28ad268e3e13048b457a.html |archive-date=2017-09-20 }}</ref> During the same month, Vueling cancelled all its flights to [[Sheremetyevo International Airport]], [[Vilnius Airport]] and [[Rabat–Salé Airport]]. Clients were able to get a refund or fly to the nearest airport where Vueling flew.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://elpais.com/ccaa/2016/07/20/catalunya/1469016561_179743.html |title=La cancelación de tres rutas de Vueling indigna a la Generalitat |language=es |access-date=2017-09-20 |date=2016-07-20 |newspaper=El País |location=Spain |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170920141916/https://elpais.com/ccaa/2016/07/20/catalunya/1469016561_179743.html |archive-date=2017-09-20 |last1=Baquero |first1=Camilo S. }}</ref> In October 2016, Vueling shut down their bases in Brussels, Catania and Palermo as part of restructuring measures.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/pt/2016/10/10/vueling-closes-bases-rolls-out-restructuring-plan.html|title=Vueling closes bases, rolls out restructuring plan|website=www.intelligent-aerospace.com|access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017045226/http://www.intelligent-aerospace.com/pt/2016/10/10/vueling-closes-bases-rolls-out-restructuring-plan.html|archive-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>

In March 2017, Vueling canceled its route from Barcelona to [[Frankfurt Airport]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerotelegraph.com/vueling-gibt-frankfurt-auf|title=Flüge nach Barcelona: Vueling gibt Frankfurt auf - aeroTELEGRAPH|date=30 January 2017|website=aerotelegraph.com|access-date=5 May 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171017042437/http://www.aerotelegraph.com/vueling-gibt-frankfurt-auf|archive-date=17 October 2017}}</ref>

On 29 December 2017, it was announced that IAG would acquire Austrian airline [[Niki (airline)|Niki]] as a subsidiary for Vueling.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/12/29/vueling-niki-takeover/|title=It's Official: Niki Will Become Part Of Vueling - One Mile at a Time|date=2017-12-29|work=One Mile at a Time|access-date=2017-12-31|language=en-US|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171231103931/http://onemileatatime.boardingarea.com/2017/12/29/vueling-niki-takeover/|archive-date=2017-12-31}}</ref> However, Niki was later acquired by [[Niki Lauda]], the owner of [[Laudamotion]], with investment from [[Ryanair]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-20/ryanair-buys-niki-lauda-airline-in-rare-foray-into-dealmaking|title=Ryanair Buys Niki Lauda Airline in Rare Foray Into Dealmaking|last=Weiss|first=Richard|date=2018-03-20|website=Bloomberg|publisher=Bloomberg L.P.|access-date=2018-06-28|archive-date=2018-06-29|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180629024858/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-20/ryanair-buys-niki-lauda-airline-in-rare-foray-into-dealmaking|url-status=live}}</ref> A few months after losing the bid for Niki, IAG instead established [[Level Europe|Anisec Luftfahrt]] as a subsidiary of Vueling, operating as [[Level (airline)|LEVEL]], using four former Niki aircraft that had not been purchased by rival [[Lufthansa]] (and leased to [[Lauda (airline)|Lauda]]).<ref name="Vueling Austria Level">{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/279343/vienna-calling-for-level-as-iag-plots-austrian-assault-/|title=Vienna calling for LEVEL as IAG plots Austrian assault|last=Casey|first=David|website=Routesonline|publisher=UBM (UK) Ltd.|date=2018-06-28|access-date=2018-07-24|archive-date=2018-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724160949/https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/279343/vienna-calling-for-level-as-iag-plots-austrian-assault-/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/iag-s-austrian-based-level-increases-lcc-competition-vienna|title=IAG's Austrian-based Level increases LCC competition in Vienna|last=Hofmann|first=Kurt|website=ATWOnline|publisher=Air Transport World|date=2018-07-03|access-date=2018-07-24|archive-date=2018-07-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727124450/http://atwonline.com/airports-routes/iag-s-austrian-based-level-increases-lcc-competition-vienna|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2020, Vueling announced new routes linking [[Paris|Paris, France]] to [[Dubrovnik|Dubrovnik, Croatia]] and [[Seville|Seville, Spain]] to [[Marrakesh|Marrakech, Morocco]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.croatiaweek.com/low-cost-airline-vueling-launch-paris-dubrovnik-flights/|title=Low-cost airline Vueling launch Paris-Dubrovnik flights|website=Croatia Week|date=30 January 2020|language=en|access-date=2020-02-26|archive-date=2020-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226000832/https://www.croatiaweek.com/low-cost-airline-vueling-launch-paris-dubrovnik-flights/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/88427/vueling-airlines-start-linking-seville.html|title=Vueling Airlines to start linking Seville to Marrakech in July|last=Yabiladi.com|website=en.yabiladi.com|language=en|access-date=2020-02-26|archive-date=2020-02-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226000833/https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/88427/vueling-airlines-start-linking-seville.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Subsequently in December 2024, Vueling announced that the airline will launch flights between Florence and [[Brussels]] in April 2025 using their Airbus A319 aircraft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porcu |first=Mattia |date=2024-12-18 |title=From April 1, 2025, Vueling will connect Florence and Brussels: schedules and prices, all the details |url=https://www.theflightclub.it/en/2024/12/from-april-1-2025-vueling-will-connect-florence-and-brussels-schedules-and-prices-all-details/ |access-date=2025-01-12 |website=The Flight Club |language=en-US}}</ref>