Air Europa returns to Ecuador

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After an absence of almost 10 years Air Europa returns to Ecuador, this time with a new administration and semi-low cost style flight concept, but offering a first-class service and within reach of all budgets.

Last 17 from December to 2016 landed in the city of Guayaquil, coming from Madrid, the first Air Europa flight direct to the Buenos Aires city, in the framework of its strong expansion throughout the region, where the airline seeks to confront the marked influence of Iberia in South America, which is the main European operator and operates the most flights in the region.

About Air Europa

Air Europa, initially founded as Air España in 1984, It is one of the main long-haul airlines on the Iberian Peninsula and the third in the Spanish market after Iberia and Vueling., but the second in the transport of passengers with 10 millions transported 2015. Belonging to the Globalia Corporación Empresarial S.A group, which is the largest Spanish tourist group, where important companies in the sector such as Halcón Viajes are included in its portfolio, Ecuador Travel, Travel Plan and your airline, which has been a key piece for the development of this business group fully focused on tourism.

In its relatively short history, Air Europa has achieved important recognitions such as being the fourth in the world with the best punctuality, count on 85% occupancy on their flights, excellence in resource management and having one of the youngest fleets, with only 6 years in average age.

Hitos AE

1986 – It is established with the name Air Europa.

1991 – A group of investors headed by Juan José Hidalgo acquires the company.

1995 – Air Europa flies to London and New York, opening to the regular international flights market.

1998 – Juan José Hidalgo groups his companies in the holding company Globalia Corporación Empresarial.

1999 – Air Europa incorporates the first six Boeings 737 new generation.

2000 – Air Europa incorporates the first Boeing 767-300 for its transoceanic routes and launches its customer loyalty program called “Fidelitas”, which has 130.000 members.

2004 – Air Europa begins direct flights to Quito, Guayaquil, Prague and Warsaw.

2005 – Air Europa becomes the first Spanish airline to make direct flights to China.

2006 – At the end of the year the company has 37 planes, with which he has transported more than 9 million travelers. Operating income is close to 1.000 millions of euros.

2007 – Air Europa inaugurates two new transoceanic routes: Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro.

2008 – Air Europa announces the reservation of 8 boeing aircraft 787 of the latest generation that will be incorporated, gradually, to your fleet starting next year

2010 – Air Europa establishes a non-stop route between Madrid and Lima.

2011 – Air Europa adds two A330-200 to its fleet.

2012 – Air Europa registers a record year in terms of opening new routes, both European (Brussels, Ginebra) like Africans (Banjul, Gambia) the Americans (Holy Cross of the Sierra).

2013 – Air Europa opens new routes to Coruña, Montevideo and inaugurates the Madrid-Sao Paulo route.

2015 – Air Europa announces a new order to Boeing for fourteen 787-9 Dreamliner, in addition to the eight B787s already acquired outright. Flights between Madrid and Tel Aviv begin; Madrid and Asunción and inaugurates its daily flights to Miami with a Boeing 787 rented to LOT.

Fleet and destinations

Europe, as it is known for its radio called, currently has in its fleet 56 airplanes and is formed as follows:

• 12 Airbus A330-200
• 3 Airbus A330-300
• 6 ATR72
• 19 Boeing 737-800
• 5 Boeing 787-8
• 1 Embraer 145 (I would soon leave the fleet)
• 5 Embraer 195

Additionally it has 45 pending orders between Boeing 787-8 (3 requests), Boeing 787-9 (16 requests), Boeing 737-800 (6 requests) y Boeing 737MAX (20 requests), which will allow further optimization of operating costs by reducing fuel consumption with completely new aircraft, especially in long and medium distance.

With its current fleet it covers 45 destinations in more than 22 Asian countries, Africa, Europe, North America, Central America, Caribbean and South America, plus destinations that are part of the global SkyTeam alliance, to which it belongs since 2007.

Its main operations HUB is located at the Madrid Barajas International Airport., but with an important presence as semi HUBs at the Palma de Mallorca Airport, El Prat Airport Barcelona, Gran Canarias Airport and Tenerife South Airport.

Return to Ecuador

Air Europa returned to Ecuador aboard an Airbus 330-200, which took off from the Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport at 23.50 hours and landed in the Ecuadorian city at 05:18 hours. It's worth say, that the airline does a little more than 10 years, operated in Ecuador, covering the route Madrid – Quito – Guayaquil and return, carrying out the traditional triangulation carried out by KLM and Iberia. The latter said goodbye to Guayaquil in April and will only operate directly from Quito to Madrid, opening the doors to this new operation for Air Europa. When the airline operated in Ecuador, He did it at the same time as Air Madrid, together with LAN Ecuador and Iberia, so competition would have reduced flight occupancy, resulting in their departure from the country.

This return to Ecuador was operated by the Airbus A330-202, MSN 745 with 11 years in operation for the company. The aircraft is configured with a maximum capacity of 299 passengers, distributed in only two classes of 24 passengers in Business and 275 en Economy. Powered by two General Electric engines 2 x GE CF6-80E1A3 has an autonomy of 6750 miles, perfect for these new flights that will have a duration of between 10 hours to 11 hours with 20 minutes depending on the round trip or return leg.

Globalia's air division will initially operate this route with five weekly frequencies, on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, friday and sunday; although during the period between mid-January and May, coinciding with the low season, The operation will depart from Madrid on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays to establish, again, in May the five initial frequencies. The operation will remain this way until the market adapts and recognizes this new competitor., since from Guayaquil it will have to occupy the position left by Iberia versus LATAM Ecuador that operates with 3 weekly flights to Madrid and KLM to Amsterdam with a daily flight.

The flight schedule also allows all passengers who land in Madrid from Guayaquil at 05:20 Madrid Time, make a perfect and fast connection, through the flight distribution center, with the rest of the European and domestic destinations to which Air Europa flies. For his part, upon arrival in Guayaquil 06:20 Time Guayaquil, is also guaranteed, excellent connections to other cities in the country such as Esmeraldas, Cuenca, Sour Lake, Coca, Manta and soon Galapagos (Saint Christopher and Baltra), favorite tourist destination for foreigners. All this thanks to the recently signed codeshare agreement with the Ecuadorian flag airline, Tame.

So far the scope of the code shared between both airlines is applied only between Quito and Guayaquil, to move passengers between the two most important cities in Ecuador. In the coming months this agreement will be expanded to other cities and the possibility opens up that Tame can directly sell tickets to the final destination of Madrid thanks to this alliance..

Upon arrival of the first flight, This was received with the always traditional water arch by the aeronautical firefighters of José Joaquín de Olmedo, so that later guests, press and passengers witness a traditional Guayaquil dance full of joy, music and typical costumes. Instead, For the departure, a cocktail was prepared for guests and senior authorities of the Airport., Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador and Air Europa, where Juan Lopez was present, Airline Revenue Manager. Prior to boarding, a traditional Spanish flamenco dance was performed for the entertainment of passengers., who stood out on this occasion for being mainly connecting passengers to other points in Europe and not necessarily Madrid as their final destination..

Despite the short time on sale of the route, The first Madrid Guayaquil flight had the 92% Of occupation, while Guayaquil Madrid with a 86%, showing an encouraging start to the route, which by launch has a promotion that ranges from $600 dollars round trip between both countries.

It is expected that, with his return to Ecuador, Air Europa is an important entity for cargo transportation from Ecuador to the European Union, thanks to the potential to connect with more than 60 routes from Madrid and the recently signed trade agreement between Ecuador and the EU.

Now the company only has to return to Santiago de Chile, in order to operate in all South American countries.

Technical data

AirEuropa (UX-AEA)
foundation	1984
HUB Principal	Madrid Barajas International Airport
Fleet	56
destinations (National and international)	45
Web page	www.air-europa.com

 

maiden flight
Airplane	Airbus A330-202
Registration	EC-JQG
MAD-GYE Occupation	275
GYE-MAD Occupation	253

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