New base for Vueling

[AVION1]

January 19, 2007
Vueling Airlines confirms increased passenger traffic by 75%, to over 3.5 million, and the incorporation of an additional 17 new routes in 2006.

At the end of its second year of operations, the new generation airline with headquarters in Barcelona, had a successful IPO in the Madrid stock exchange, only the second Spanish airline to ever go public.

As a next step in its expansion plans Vueling is actively examining the opening of its first international base in an additional European city.

Barcelona, January 18th, 2007. Vueling, the new generation airline, announces strong passenger growth in 2006. An increase in frequencies and routes, as well as the addition of new Airbus A-320’s pushed passenger growth to 75% last year. The number of passengers flying Vueling was 3.51 million compared with 2.01 million in 2005. The company operated 28,382 flights in 2006, 70% more than in 2005.

Vueling’s brand-new fleet of Airbus A-320’s increased to 16 in 2006, and continues to be Europe’s youngest and most modern with an average life of 1,5 years. An additional 9 aircraft will be delivered in 2007. In 2006, Vueling doubled its workforce up to 807 and the company plans to have approximately 1,100 employees in 2007.

Growth in markets

While Vueling’s Barcelona base has continued to generate the most traffic with 2.28 million passengers in 2006, traffic at the Madrid base has grown five-fold over the same year. Vueling Airlines saw an equally spectacular growth in international passenger numbers with a 438% increase in Lisbon, 124% in the Benelux, 101% in Italy and 79% in Paris.

In order to actively pursue its expansion plans Vueling has initiated a thorough investigation into the possibilities of its first international base in one of the European countries the airline has been flying to over the past two years. At present Paris, Rome, Milan and Amsterdam are the final contenders. Vueling will announce the final decision as to the location of its first international base towards the end of February 2007.

[Atlantis]

It's a pity that they don't want to choose for BRU or in other words that BRU will be one of the candidates.

Brussels Airport said some months ago that they want to work closer with Vueling. This was a big opportunity.

[mrLenin]

Brussels Airport said some months ago that they want to work closer with Vueling. This was a big opportunity.

Hard to say if it was a big oppotunity or big snare.

[earthman]

I vote for Amsterdam.

[mrLenin]

Why do you think it is a good solution?

[Cesare]

For me the new base will be Paris CDG

[AVION1]

Amsterdam option withdrawn.

For the moment still CDG,MXP,FCO in competition.

An announcement should be made before the end of this month.

But I know they'd rather prefer CDG to start.

[Advisor]

CDG seems bullish on it's appointment 8)

[snowbird]

As you know, airlines must return unused summer 2007 airportslots before 31jan.

A short analysis learns, that Vueling returned MANY slots at Malpensa and Fiumcino, but kept their slots at CDG.
CDG will be the new base for Vueling as from June.
They have plans to base 5 a/c and will operate to MAD, BCN, BIO. SCQ, ALC, FCO, VLC, AGP,

[airolea]

when are we going to see a vueling plane in Germany?
a few months ago i read something about vueling flying to DUS...
Thanks,

Airolea

[AVION1]

SLOTS REQUESTED IN CDG STARTING MARCH 25th

Departure Time (Local Time)

VLG8320 0700 AGP
VLG7042 0825 ALC
VLG8310 0635 BCN
VLG5002 1055 BCN
VLG9810 1555 BCN
VLG8304 1755 BCN
VLG5070 2055 BCN
VLG5001 2150 BCN
VLG5241 0830 BIO
VLG8300 0700 FCO
VLG8314 1755 FCO
VLG8319 1515 LIS
VLG8380 0730 MAD
VLG9824 1250 MAD
VLG6954 1420 MAD
VLG6115 1605 MAD
VLG6011 2140 MAD
VLG8340 0830 MXP
VLG8308 1735 MXP
VLG1193 1225 SCQ
VLG8306 0715 SVQ
VLG8035 1230 SVQ
VLG8322 1410 SVQ
VLG8033 2040 SVQ
VLG8001 0830 VLC
VLG7922 1200 VLC
VLG8324 1920 VLC
VLG8003 2220 VLC