Level underperformed in Paris and Vienna: IAG CE

IAG's budget carrier Level has performed below expectations in Paris and Vienna, group CE Willie Walsh admitted Friday. Level operates long-haul flights out of Paris and has a short-haul base in Vienna, adding to a long-haul base in Barcelona. While the Barcelona operation has performed well, the situation in Paris and notably Vienna has been tough, Walsh said. Vienna has over the last year become a battleground for Europe's biggest LCCs. "Vienna has seen huge increase in capacity, so that has had a big impact on yields in the Vienna market, which are behind what we had planned," says Walsh, though he adds that volumes and customer reaction have been better than expected. "It's a market where... the airport is certainly making money and customers are getting good offers but it is challenging for the airlines," he says. <br/>