In the last decade a total of 33 Spanish airlines have closed down

No less than 33 Spanish airlines announced their closure between 2006 and 2016, something unprecedented in the history of this sector in Spain. The year 2008, which marked the beginning of the global economic crisis, was the worst of all, with eight companies ceasing operations. Others had to merge or seek foreign capital. The likelihood of an airline surviving in our country

is very low.

There are cases in which the project, from its inception, landed in the sector with shortcomings. The different administrations and regulations do not seem to detect and prevent these deficiencies that irremediably end with the disappearance of the airline more or less abruptly, but always leaving behind all kinds of consequences to users and passengers.

In the entire history of Spanish aviation, a total of 63 airlines (79%) have ceased operations for various reasons. For those that have ceased operations, the average life span is approximately 8 years. From the 1980s onwards, it drops to 6; from the beginning of 2000, the average drops to 4; and from 2006 onwards, it reaches approximately 3 years of life until its closure.

“The creation of an airline requires dedication, both economic and human capital and a good dose of enthusiasm. It is a relatively affordable project. What is truly titanic, especially in view of the data, is to manage to survive and sustain itself on "the air".... Multiple variable factors lurk, such as fuel price fluctuations, terrorism, natural disasters and a host of other threats of all kinds," explains Luis Matera, Business Intelligence at Europair.

A LITTLE HISTORY

It is difficult to find airlines that are still active and have reached adulthood.

Iberia will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year and consolidates its position as the oldest airline in Spain. The Canary Islands NAYSA, with 48 years old, followed by the Majorcan Air Europa and the Madrid a Swiftair will be 31 years old.Binter Canarias,Air Nostrum and Aeronova (future Air Europa Express) are the other young Spanish airlines, at 28, 23 and 21 years old respectively. You have to go back beyond 2000 to reach the founding of Vueling, Albastar or Volotea, among other teenage airlines in the history of Spanish aviation.

It is also necessary to remember important airlines that fell by the wayside, such as Aviaco, Spantax or Spanair. They were not the only ones. Others –more modest in fleet and route volume– were also affected by different crises and were not able to recover.

To date we have seen the birth of a total of 80 Spanish flag airlines, but only 17 of them are still active today. In addition to the aforementioned, 3 that were born in the eighties, 3 others in the nineties and 5 more between 2003 and 2011 remain operational, ending with 4 new players since 2011.