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Spanish carrier Iberia and budget long-haul operator Level will initially co-operate on US services following Level’s establishment as a standalone carrier. Level has secured its own air operator’s certificate, under the name Fly Level Barcelona, the Spanish civil aviation regulator AESA confirms. The airline – which, like Iberia, is owned by IAG – will have a fleet of Airbus A330s. Iberia has previously operated six aircraft under the Level brand. One of these has been transferred to the new airline, with a second transfer in progress, states a joint Level-Iberia regulatory filing to US authorities. It says these aircraft will be used on South American routes. Three more aircraft will then be transferred to the Level AOC which will subsequently be wet-leased back to Iberia for US operations, until the final Level-branded aircraft has moved over. Iberia and Level are seeking to codeshare on US routes, with flights operating under both the ‘IB’ and ‘LL’ designators.<br/>

Qatar Airways is looking to strike the Boeing Co. 737-10 model from its order book because the aircraft no longer meets its fleet requirements, according to people familiar with the discussions. The airline, with an order for 25 737-10s, is considering switching to smaller 737-8s and would likely hand those planes to partners like RwandAir and Virgin Australia Holdings Ltd. that already use the model, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private negotiations. The Gulf carrier firmed up the deal for the 737s in mid 2022 at a time when it was mired in a messy dispute with Airbus SE that led to the cancellation of a purchase agreement for 50 A321 narrowbody jets. The spat, which originated with the larger A350 model, was later settled out of court and Airbus reinstated the order, leaving Qatar on the hook for the Boeing narrowbody planes that it now doesn’t need anymore. Qatar Airways declined to comment, and a Boeing official said the manufacturer would defer to the customer. In July, the airline’s CEO Badr Al-Meer said that relationships had improved with Airbus, and that the planemaker is delivering aircraft earlier than planned. Al-Meer took over from Akbar Al Baker, who had clashed with Airbus over flaking paint on the larger A350 planes. Qatar predominantly flies long-haul models like the Airbus A350 as well as Boeing’s 787 and 777 planes. As part of the switch into smaller 737 Max planes, the company may also take more 787 aircraft from Boeing, the people said. The airline could also choose to opt for the 777 freighter, another person said. The 737 Max 10 is the largest variant of Boeing’s popular single-aisle family. Qatar Airways would join carriers including United Airlines Holdings Inc. and Virgin Australia that have switched out of some orders for the long-delayed Max 10.<br/>

Qatar Airways will return to Canberra next year for the first time since COVID-19. nThe Gulf carrier will launch a daily service via Melbourne in December 2025 using its 777 fleet, bringing international connections out of Canberra back to two after Batik Air indefinitely suspended its Denpasar service in October. “This service not only provides over a million residents access to a global network spanning more than 170 destinations but also invites the world to rediscover Canberra’s unique cultural, educational, and tourism offerings,” said Canberra Airport CEO Stephen Byron. “We believe that providing a greater choice of carriers and destinations not only makes prices more competitive but also opens up boundless opportunities for our community, connecting our city to the rest of the world. These opportunities are not just about enhancing connectivity; they’re about strengthening business connections, driving economic development, and creating jobs, as well as fostering tourism and attracting international students to our vibrant city.” Engr. Badr Mohammed Al-Meer, CEO of Qatar Airways, said the airline is “delighted” to be returning to Canberra.<br/>

Fiji Airways’ move from an affiliate to a full member of Oneworld next year is likely to signal the end of the airline alliance’s Connect membership programme. The carrier, which joined the Oneworld Connect programme in 2018 as its first member under the affiliate membership scheme, in June announced its intention to transition to become a full member of the grouping. “Fiji was a Connect member and will be a full member at the end of the first quarter of 2025,” said Oneworld CE Nat Pieper during a media briefing in London in early December. “And I think, never-say-never, but that’s probably the sunset of the Oneworld Connect programme.” Affiliate membership has struggled to gain traction at any of the global alliances. Fiji Airways is the only Oneworld Connect member, while Chinese carrier Juneyao Airlines is the only member of Star Alliance’s equivalent Connecting membership programme. SkyTeam has no affiliate airline members. Pieper cites the complication of explaining the different status of an affiliate membership from a customer standpoint as one challenge. “The benefits don’t justify having something separate,” he suggests. Pieper evaluated the programme first-hand at Alaska Airlines, ahead of the US carrier’s full entry into Oneworld in 2021. He says the airline concluded that if it was going to participate in the alliance, “we want a seat at the table and to shape where we are going”.<br/>