Emirates (EK, Dubai International) is interested in using Barcelona El Prat as an intermediate hub for onward flights to the Americas. Spain's Preferente newspaper says the Catalonian government has confirmed the Emiratis' interest but has not given any time frames for the development.
Earlier this year, Emirates' country general manager, Fernando Suárez de Góngora, said the proposal would make sense and has strong potential but would depend on the United Arab Emirates securing 5th Freedom traffic rights during its Bilateral Air Services Agreement negotiations with Spain.
The newspaper added that Catalonia is also in talks with LAN Airlines (Santiago de Chile) and TAM Linhas Aéreas (São Paulo Congonhas) parent, LATAM Group, over plans to use the city as its own hub for flights between São Paulo Guarulhos and Asia.
Last week, Willie Walsh, the CEO of the International Airlines Group (IAG), said Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas) had no intention of resuming longhaul flights out of Barcelona until such time that they proved financial viable.
