Clickair, Iberia's new low cost airline, takes off 05/09/2006 00:00

5 September 2006

BARCELONA — Clickair, the low-cost airline backed by Iberia, will start selling tickets this week, the company said on Tuesday.

The new airline, based at Barcelona's El Prat airport, will start flying from the end of October.

Flights go to Amsterdam, Geneva, Zurich, Prague, Dublín, Lisbon, Oporto  and Moscow.

Domestic flights will also run to Málaga, Valencia, Seville and Bilbao.

The airline, which has three planes, is working round the clock to try to make sure it is ready to begin selling tickets from 7 September, a spokesman said.

It is not clear if Iberia is to become involved in baggage handling and other services for the new company.

Spanish laws mean Iberia must compete with others for the handling contract for  Clickair.

Hundreds of Iberia baggage handlers staged a strike in July which left Barcelona airport in chaos and thousands waiting for days for their suitcases.

The government has had to pay compensation to the passengers for the disruption caused.

Apart from Iberia, the other shareholders are ACS, Nefinsa, Iberostar and Quercus.

[Copyright EFE with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news