Vueling and clickair integrated their operations at one minute past midnight on 9 July 2009, integrating the two companies under the Vueling brand and bringing to an end the clickair operation.
This step brought together timetables, services and sales channels, in what constituted the most important step of the integration process. Shortly after, new Vueling’s first three flights departed simultaneously at five minutes past midnight, linking Barcelona to Moscow, Palermo and Verona, a set of routes that were previously operated by clickair.
Along with the integration, Vueling moved operations to terminal 2B at Barcelona airport, in a preliminary step to the definitive move to the brand-new Terminal 1, which will take place in September.
The carrier recorded 263 flights and 40,000 passengers on the first day of operations, 70% of which originated from Barcelona airport.
Vueling now codeshares with Iberia and only overlapping routes are not subject to this agreement. However, Vueling will continue operating its own independent sales force, available through travel agents and corporate accounts via IATA’s code VY. The sales increase in this channel has been one of the milestones in the company’s improvement plan, to the point that GDS sales now represent more than 20% of Vueling’s ticket revenue.
The new Vueling operates a 35 all-Airbus A320 fleet, flying 92 routes to 45 airports in 17 countries in Europe and north Africa. Its main shareholders are Iberia, with a 45.85% share, Inversiones Hemisferio, with 14.3%, Nefinsa, 4.15%. Free float will be around 35%.
Josep Piqué remains as Vueling’s chairman, while Alex Cruz, clickair’s CEO, has the same function in the newly-merged company.
The DoD has changed its structures and is been increasing efforts to facilitate access to loans by companies interested in working with artificial intelligence, advanced materials and semiconductors, biotechnology and quantum science.
India has approved millions of dollars in new military purchases, most of which will go to public sector companies.
The main obstacles to overcoming risks in the region are a lack of a strong cybersecurity culture and inadequate funds to invest in this domain given a widespread Chinese presence in the region.
MBDA is adapting to supply chain pressures as the Russian invasion of Ukraine leads to increased demand for armaments.
Despite the additional funding promised this week, the UK armed forces still look set to face cutbacks, and maintaining international commitments to AUKUS and GCAP may limit the options for other programmes.
This week on the Shephard Defence Podcast, senior naval reporter Harry Lye and military training & simulation reporter Norbert Neumann chat with Professor John Louth.
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