IAG expands low-cost Level airline to Austria

British Airways and Iberia parent International Consolidated Airlines Group has announced plans to launch a new Austrian subsidiary, branded as the company's low-cost Level carrier, with flights from Vienna.

The subsidiary will base four Airbus A321 aircraft in Vienna from where it will fly to 14 European destinations.

Flights to Palma, Majorca and London Gatwick will be launched on 17 July, while over the four subsequent weeks flights from Vienna will be launched to Barcelona, Malaga, Venice, Olbia, Ibiza, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Milan Malpensa, Dubrovnik, Larnaca, Alicante, Valencia and Bilbao.

IAG said lead-in fares start at €24.99 and can be bought at flylevel.com.

Chief executive Willie Walsh said: "We are launching this new short-haul subsidiary to provide Austrian consumers with more flight choices across Europe. These flights will be branded as LEVEL to build upon the huge success of our new long haul low-cost operation.

"We will serve the Austrian market with low-cost, reliable flights and will initially create around 200 new jobs at our Vienna base."

Customers can check-in online or at the airport and take one hand baggage item on board for free. They can also choose to pay for additional items, such as checked luggage, from a menu of options.

Each of the A321 aircraft will have 210 economy seats and flights will operate from Terminal 1 in Vienna airport.