Vienna-based Level Europe has today ceased trading with immediate effect.
I must stress that IAG-owned Level Europe is not to be confused with Level.
The former is a short-haul operator launched at Vienna airport in 2018, whereas Level is long-haul.
Level Europe operates six Airbus aircraft and is part of IAG’s Vueling Group.
In a statement IAG said that Level Europe “has been impacted by the unprecedented crisis caused by Covid-19”.
Level Europe was a low-cost carrier. Previously two of its routes were London Gatwick to Vienna and London Luton to Amsterdam.
In recent times short-haul competition at Vienna had become more fierce.
Vienna has seen the arrival of more low-cost services for what is a relatively small market, even considering customers are also sourced from nearby Slovakia and Hungary.
In addition Austrian Airlines already had a comprehensive short-haul network in place.
This is needed because much of its business comprises sixth-freedom traffic.
And life at Vienna is expected to get tougher for low-cost carriers.
The government wants all airlines to charge a minimum price for short flights and low-cost airlines must feel disadvantaged by the state aid provided to Austria’s national airline.