International Airlines Group (IAG) today appointed Rafael Jiménez Hoyos as the new CEO of LEVEL, IAG’s long-haul airline operating from Barcelona. The appointment will take effect on 1 October, when Fernando Candela will retire following a very successful career within the Group where he was LEVEL CEO, Chairman at Iberia, Director of Transformation at IAG and CEO at Iberia Express.
Luis Gallego, CEO of IAG, said: “With the appointment of Rafael Jiménez Hoyos, we are benefitting once again the extraordinary talent that we have in our Group. Rafael’s contribution has been fundamental to achieve Iberia’s operational excellence, becoming one of the most punctual airlines in the world. In this new phase, LEVEL will continue working to grow the airline and connect Barcelona with the world. I would like to deeply appreciate the extraordinary work and commitment of Fernando Candela since he joined LEVEL in 2019, role that he has combined recently with the Group’s transformation plans and the Iberia leadership.”
Until now, Rafael Jiménez Hoyos held the position of Chief Operating Officer of Iberia, a company he joined in 2013. Previously, he was Director of Flight Operations at Iberia Express and Director of Flight Operations and Director of Quality and Operational Safety at Vueling. As well as his experience in managerial positions, he brings a deep knowledge of aviation as he is a graduate of the Spanish Air Force Academy and an A320 commander and examiner. As a commercial pilot, he has worked as a commander in clickair, Vueling, Iberia Express and Air Nostrum. In his military career, he was a combat pilot in the Spanish air force, participating in missions abroad alongside the US air force and was part of the Spanish Eagle Patrol.
As part of the Group’s strategy, LEVEL is developing an ambitious growth plan. The airline is completing the process to obtain its Air Operator Certificate (AOC), continues to grow its fleet with the target of reaching eight aircraft by 2026 (it currently has six) and is reporting double-digit operating margin and operational excellence backed by punctuality of over 85% in 2023.
In the current financial year, LEVEL has increased capacity to destinations such as New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Boston, and has launched the route to Miami in the North Atlantic market. In Latin America, it is reinforcing routes to Santiago de Chile and Buenos Aires. Overall, by 2024, LEVEL has increased its capacity to nearly one million seats, almost doubling the figure offered in 2019. As a result, LEVEL is, since 2023, the leading long-haul operator at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat airport, making a fundamental contribution to the development and consolidation of Barcelona’s hub and its international connectivity.
