LEVEL (Barcelona El Prat) is a strong candidate for the A321neo(LR) and other similar aircraft given the types' ability to open up thin longhaul routes, the CEO of the budget carrier's parent, IAG International Airlines Group, has said.

Speaking during a World Routes strategy summit in Barcelona, Willie Walsh told Routes Online the A321neo(LR) is an aircraft that would open new opportunities in longhaul markets that cannot be served efficiently using existing widebody aircraft.

Launched in June this year, LEVEL currently operates two A330-200s although Walsh says this is expected to grow to about thirteen aircraft by 2019, and up to thirty by 2022. In July, IAG firmed up three A330-200 options for LEVEL for delivery in September 2018.

Using its two existing A330s, operated by Iberia (IB, Madrid Barajas), LEVEL currently serves Punta Cana, Oakland International, Los Angeles International, and Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini from its Barcelona El Prat base. A decision on the carrier's first base outside of Barcelona El Prat is expected later this year with Rome Fiumicino and Paris CDG contenders.

“We’ll make a decision on that within the next couple of months," he said "We do prefer one over the other, and I think it will be at least two aircraft in the new base.”