Another IAG airline bites the dust – LEVEL France closing

According to El Pais in Spain, IAG – the parent company of British Airways – has decided to close down LEVEL France, its long-haul low cost airline.

This follows LEVEL Europe, the short-haul low cost airline based in Vienna, which entered insolvency last month.

LEVEL Europe operated a relatively small fleet of six A320 and A321 aircraft out of Vienna and Amsterdam to destinations such as Rome, London, Lisbon and Barcelona.  Around 240 staff were made redundant.

Unlike LEVEL Europe, which slipped into administration, it appears that IAG is pre-emptively winding down LEVEL France. According to El Pais, IAG management has made the decision to close the loss-making Paris base in the coming weeks. A consultation with the unions is due to begin on 15th July.

What was LEVEL France?

LEVEL France was a long-haul operation based out of Paris Orly, using three A330-200 aircraft.

It flew to:

• Montreal
• Guadeloupe
• Martinique
• New York Newark

There was no Business Class.  The aircraft operated with only Premium Economy and Economy seating.  It was a fairly basic business model:

you paid for all food and drink

you paid for all checked luggage

you paid for seat selection

you paid for a blanket, pillow and / or amenity kit

you paid for internet

you paid for IFE

LEVEL France was, legally, the old British Airways OpenSkies operation in new clothes.

Operating from Paris Orly, OpenSkies used to operate two flights per day to New York Newark and New York JFK.  OpenSkies services were bookable with Avios and, if you paid cash, you earned Avios and British Airways tier points.  It had a weirdly named three class service – Biz Bed, Prem Plus and Eco.

When British Airways decided to pull the plug on OpenSkies, IAG decided to use its operating licence to ‘front’ LEVEL France.

What’s left for LEVEL?

With the Vienna-based short haul operation and the Paris-based long haul operation now gone, all that remains is the original LEVEL Barcelona operation.

This was operating on long haul routes to Buenos Aires, San Francisco and Boston. El Pais suggests that this will continue.

The Barcelona operation worked well because it wasn’t facing much direct competition and had a large catchment area.  The Paris long haul market was a totally different matter.  That said, it would be odd if IAG was prepared to keep LEVEL going as a pure three route long haul operation out of Spain.

How to earn Avios from UK credit cards (December 2024)

As a reminder, there are various ways of earning Avios points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses!

In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.

You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:

Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard

Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review

Barclaycard Avios Mastercard

Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review

There are two official British Airways American Express cards with attractive sign-up bonuses:

British Airways American Express Premium Plus

30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review

British Airways American Express

5,000 Avios for signing up and an Economy 2-4-1 voucher for spending £15,000 Read our full review

You can also get generous sign-up bonuses by applying for American Express cards which earn Membership Rewards points. These points convert at 1:1 into Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold is increased to 30,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 30,000 Avios. Click here to apply.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 14th January 2025, the sign-up bonus on The Platinum Card from American Express is increased to 80,000 Membership Rewards points. This converts into 80,000 Avios! The spend requirement is changed to £10,000 in six months for this offer. Click here to apply.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold

Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review

The Platinum Card from American Express

Huge 80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

Run your own business?

We recommend Capital on Tap for limited companies. You earn 1 Avios per £1 which is impressive for a Visa card, along with a sign-up bonus worth 10,500 Avios.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 9th December 2024, there are EXCLUSIVE sign-up offers for our readers on the two Capital on Tap small business Visa cards. You can earn 20,000 points on the Business Rewards card and 30,000 points on the new Pro card. Click here to apply.

Capital on Tap Business Rewards Visa

20,000 points (ONLY TO 9TH DECEMBER) Read our full review

Capital on Tap Pro Visa

30,000 points (TO 9TH DECEMBER) plus good benefits Read our full review

There is also a British Airways American Express card for small businesses:

British Airways American Express Accelerating Business

30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review

There are also generous bonuses on the two American Express Business cards, with the points converting at 1:1 into Avios. These cards are open to sole traders as well as limited companies.

American Express Business Platinum

50,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review

American Express Business Gold

20,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.