After the launch of its website on May 16, 2004, Vueling commenced operations on July 1, 2004, with a flight from Barcelona to Ibiza. At that time, the airline had just 2 Airbus A320 aircraft, based in Barcelona, and 4 routes: Ibiza, Palma de Mallorca, Brussels, and Paris-Charles de Gaulle.
In 2005, Madrid Barajas was added as the airline’s second base.
In 2006, under the name Punto Programme, Vueling launched the air points collection system with no card (100% online) and no restrictions on when the points can be cashed in.
In 2007, Vueling opened its first base outside Spain, at Paris – Charles de Gaulle, followed by Seville in December.
In 2008, with the launch of mobile sales, Vueling became the first Spanish airline to allow customers to buy flights on their mobile phone. Also, Vueling teamed up with MTV, customizing two of its A320s with street-inspired art and bringing new in-flight experiences to their target audiences, like live onboard performance.
In July 2009, Vueling merged with Clickair, becoming the second largest Spanish airline, with 8.2 million passengers and almost 50 destinations. Clickair flights and aircraft were re-branded under the Vueling name since the new merged airline continued to operate under the Vueling brand.
In 2010, Vueling and MTV joined forces for the third year running. Jade Jagger, Mick Jagger’s daughter, designed both the fuselage and the interior of an Airbus A320. Gold leather seats, embossed headrests, designer carpet and special lighting turned the aircraft into an authentic “jet-set” lounge club.
In 2011, Vueling opened a permanent base at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, and further expansion was announced with the addition of nine aircraft, one Airbus A319 and six Airbus A320 aircraft. 2011 was also the launch year of the Vueling mobile app, now available for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
In 2012, Vueling was awarded the Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) certification by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) which endorses the airline as having the very highest standards in both quality and safety. Also, the airline created the new Excellence fare, which includes flexibility on last-minute changes, access to VIP lounges, priority check-in and boarding, seating in the first row and with an empty middle seat, and guaranteed space for their hand luggage.
In April 2013, IAG (International Airlines Group), the parent company of Iberia and British Airways, acquired control of Vueling.
In March 2014, Vueling has partnered with Sony to develop a wearable boarding pass designed for the SmartWatch 2. Using a 2D barcode, the application puts flight information and boarding passes as close as your wrist.
In May 2014, Rome Fiumicino Airport was chosen for the location of Vueling’s second hub, allowing Vueling to continue expanding in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. From Rome, Vueling offers 40 direct destinations and up to 850 flight combinations. Furthermore, Vueling has signed a codeshare agreement with British Airways to jointly operate domestic flights in Italy and Spain, and international ones with third-party countries.
In 2015, Vueling, in collaboration with Telefonica, is the first airline to offer high-speed Wifi connection (20 Mbps). This technology is introduced on 4 Airbus A320 and available on all short and medium range flights.
In October 2016, Vueling shut down three of their European bases, Brussels, Catania, and Palermo, as part of restructuring measures.
In October 2017, Vueling replaced the Punto Programme with a new loyalty programme, Vueling Club, that uses the same Avios currency as the other IAG Airlines.
In June 2018, Vueling’s first Airbus A320neo made its first flight. This will be the first new-generation narrow-body airliner of a total of 47 aircraft that Vueling will begin to receive shortly.
In 2019, Vueling celebrated its 15th anniversary. From two aircraft and 40,000 passengers in the first year, Vueling grew to be one of Europe’s largest low-cost airlines. With a fleet of 123 aircraft based across the continent, it currently serves 120 destinations across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic challenged Vueling, drastically affecting its capacity and results. To manage the crisis, Vueling focused on four priorities: protecting the health of customers and employees, ensuring the strict enforcement of all applicable safety protocols, from boarding to deplaning, detecting and stimulating demand, managing its cash flow and costs.
In February 2021, Vueling announced new routes, expanding its presence to eight Scandinavian cities and smaller bases in beach cities like Malaga, Alicante, and Palma de Mallorca. The new routes fit into Vueling’s business model focused on low-cost, leisure travel.
Vueling has an excellent safety record with no accidents recorded in its 15 years of operations.
En
Es
Fr
