Ryanair hopes to get more flight rights in the Canary Islands

The Irish airline Ryanair hopes that Iberia's purchase of Air Europa will open up opportunities to obtain more 'slots' (flight rights) in Spain, especially in the airports of Madrid, Balearic Islands and Canary Islands, according to its CEO, Eddie Wilson.

The low-cost company considers that the operation agreed between IAG (Iberia's parent company) and Air Europa is "a good opportunity", since there will be free 'slots' that Iberia will not be able to use and that can help Ryanair in its growth plans in Spain.

And since Ryanair has lower prices, "this will benefit consumers", Wilson highlighted this Wednesday at the signing of the first collective agreement for its pilots in Spain.

The airline supports consolidation, because when there are mergers of this type, there must be assignments and distribution of 'slots', but it is also in favor of competition and that the customer can decide, said the Irish executive.

For its part, the Spanish Union of Airline Pilots (Sepla) hopes that the agreement reached last week on the purchase of Air Europa by Iberia "will serve to strengthen the labor and professional future of the pilots of both companies", said its president, Óscar Sanguino.

"We are going to work with the companies involved so that the voice of the pilots is heard during the process," he added.