Wamos Air (EB, Madrid Barajas) has taken a “strategic shift” in its business model, to exit scheduled flights and specialise only in charter, cargo, and wet-lease operations. As a result, it has concluded a deal in which Iberojet (Spain) (E9, Palma de Mallorca) will operate its key routes to Mexico and the Dominican Republic.
The move enables Wamos Air to “consolidate its position” as a charter/ACMI specialist, the airline said in a statement. Iberojet, which is itself a Spanish charter carrier owned by tourism firm Barceló Group via its Ávoris leisure travel division, began to operate its routes from Madrid Barajas to Cancún and Punta Cana - each currently 1x weekly according to the ch-aviation capacities module - on June 18.
Iberojet already conducts flights to both destinations, currently 6x weekly to Cancún and 7x weekly to Punta Cana. Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that its single A330-300, EC-MII (msn 1691), and both of its A350-900s, EC-NBO (msn 293) and EC-NGY (msn 400), have flown from the Spanish capital to the Mexican and Dominican cities over the last week.
Wamos Air said in a statement that “the commitment has been signed as both companies adapt to the current market circumstances, after the situation generated by the pandemic and by virtue of consolidating Wamos Air as a leader in its segment.”
Chief executive Enrique Saiz elaborated that “this step represents an important advance in our strategy to continue strengthening the wet-lease and cargo business lines, and so consolidate our position in these markets.” He added that it “is a very well-thought-out strategic move that seeks not to cause any damage to the travel agents or final clients. The contractual conditions agreed between the clients and Wamos Air remain unchanged.”
Wamos Air currently operates a fleet of four A330-200s and five A330-300s, the ch-aviation fleets module shows. It managed to survive the pandemic not only with a little belated help from the state, but mainly by speedily converting most of its Airbus widebody fleet into makeshift freighters soon after the outbreak. Saiz told ch-aviation in February 2022 how he now wanted to see the fleet evolve in a post-pandemic reality, including recovering its passenger charter business.
