Etihad Leases Heathrow Slot to Vueling for Summer 2025
Etihad Airways has recently taken a strategic step by leasing a daily slot at London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to Spanish carrier Vueling for the IATA northern summer season. This new lease agreement, running from March 30 through October 25, is set to enhance Vueling’s capacity for Airbus A320 operations from its Barcelona base, further intensifying competition and connectivity in one of the world’s busiest air travel markets.
According to documents from slot coordinator Airport Coordination Ltd. (ACL), Vueling plans to put the leased slot to use in expanding its presence at Heathrow. Vueling already operates double-daily flights to Heathrow using A320 aircraft and offers 25 weekly roundtrips between Barcelona and London Gatwick Airport with a mix of A320 and A321 aircraft. The additional slot at Heathrow demonstrates the carrier’s ambition to further strengthen its European network and provide greater scheduling options and frequency of flights to one of the most coveted destinations in Europe.
Interestingly, this move comes after the leased Heathrow slot was returned to Etihad earlier in the month. Previously, the slot was being used by American Airlines for its transatlantic services between LHR and U.S. destinations such as Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) and Philadelphia (PHL). Although American Airlines has relinquished the slot, it continues to operate up to four daily flights between DFW and Heathrow, while also maintaining daily flights between Philadelphia and LHR. Notably, the Dallas/Fort Worth route is expected to rise to five daily flights during the summer 2025 season, replacing British Airways’ service, whereas Philadelphia will revert to a double-daily schedule. This reshuffling of slots and frequencies illustrates the ongoing dynamic adjustments among major airlines to capture better market share and optimize network connectivity in a highly competitive transatlantic market.
Meanwhile, Etihad Airways continues to build on its robust connectivity between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport (AUH) and Heathrow. Currently, Etihad serves LHR with four daily flights operated by a combination of state-of-the-art Airbus A380-800, Boeing 787-9, and 787-10 aircraft. This route, which offers about 21,000 two-way weekly seats, stands as a testament to Etihad’s strategic focus on providing unparalleled service on its busy international routes. The airline’s performance in recent months reflects its steady growth and high load factors. In December 2024, Etihad handled 1.7 million passengers—up by 20% year-on-year—with a load factor of 87%, compared to 84% in December 2023. Such numbers underscore the airline’s resilience and robust demand amid evolving travel trends.
CEO Antonoaldo Neves recently highlighted that in the full year of 2024, Etihad carried more than 18 million guests with consistently high load factors of 87% throughout the year. This performance marks an impressive 80% increase in total passenger numbers compared to 2022, underlining the carrier’s strong growth trajectory over the past two years. The significant increase in traffic, combined with the slot realignment at Heathrow, reflects a broader industry trend where airlines are recalibrating their strategies to meet surging demand while capitalizing on new market opportunities.
By leasing the Heathrow slot to Vueling, Etihad not only facilitates the expansion of its partner’s network but also demonstrates the fluid nature of slot management in major international hubs. As summer 2025 approaches, both carriers are poised to leverage this new development for enhanced operational flexibility, increased passenger volumes, and sustained growth in an increasingly competitive global airline industry.
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