Level begins a new chapter as an independent airline to expand long-haul routes from Barcelona

Level, the long-haul airline based in Barcelona and part of the IAG group, received its Air Operator Certificate (AOC) at the end of the year, placing it on equal footing with Vueling, British Airways and Iberia. This milestone allows Level to operate as an independent airline within the group, separate from Iberia.

With this move, the company aims to position Barcelona’s El Prat Airport alongside Madrid, London and Dublin – where other IAG airlines are based – and enable the airport to expand its long-haul offerings. These will build on existing routes to the United States, where Level has increased its capacity by 300,000 seats (a 9% rise), as well as to Argentina and Chile, which it already serves.

With the AOC, Level will operate as its own entity, allowing it to independently manage its own contracts and workforce. Moreover, the airline has already confirmed the addition of two new aircraft by 2026. Level is also considering the possibility of adding new long-haul markets from Barcelona in the future, including routes to Asia.

In this new phase, Level plans to hire additional staff, expanding its current workforce of 50 captains, 85 co-pilots and around 60 professionals based at its offices in Viladecans.