Fusiones y Adquisiciones

✈ China resumes receiving Boeing aircraft after a one-month delivery suspension, post a 90-day trade truce with the U.S. During the veto, aircraft bound for China were returned to the U.S., and about 50 planes awaited delivery. The U.S. initially imposed 145% tariffs, while China set 125% tariffs. Following the agreement, U.S. tariffs will be reduced to 30% and China's to 10% for three months. The delivery schedule remains unconfirmed by Boeing and the CAAC, depending on the outcome of bilateral negotiations after the truce.

✈ Air Europa will settle its €141 million ICO-backed loan this week, originally taken in May 2020 during the pandemic. The airline will pay the remaining €58 million plus interest at an 8.107% rate. Previously, it repaid €53 million in May 2024 and €29.6 million earlier. The loan was due by 2028 but is now cleared. Next, Air Europa must address a €475 million state rescue, with Lufthansa or Air France-KLM potential investors.

📍 World2Meet (W2M) launches a European expansion plan, already operating Newblue in Bulgaria and Romania. W2M, owned by Iberostar, aims to grow its international presence, already established in Mexico and Portugal. The expansion includes their bed bank, 40% of W2M's business, and Icárion, a tour operator for major trips. World2Fly strengthens their operations with a new Airbus A330, the seventh in their fleet, expecting to surpass 1.2 million passengers in 2025 after hitting over 900,000 in 2024.

✈ Emirates Group surpassed global airlines in profitability in fiscal year April 2024 to March 2025 with $39.6 billion revenue, a 6% increase, and $6.2 billion profits, 18% higher than the previous year. After taxes, profits stood at $5.6 billion. The group employs 121,223 workers, up 9%, and invested $3.8 billion in planes, facilities, and synergistic company acquisitions. Although not fully at pre-pandemic operation levels, Emirates launched flights to Bogotá and Madagascar, resumed routes to Phnom Penh, Lagos, Adelaide, and Edinburgh, and started integrating new A350 aircraft.

✈ IAG ordered 53 aircraft for long-haul fleet, including 32 B787-10 for British Airways, 21 A330-900neo for Aer Lingus, Iberia, or Level. Shareholder approval pending in June for a deal enabling fleet growth and replacement with fuel-efficient aircraft, with deliveries between 2028-2033. Options include 10 additional 787s for British Airways and up to 13 more A330-900neo for Airbus. This adds to March orders of six A350-900 for Iberia, six A350-1000 and six B777-9 for British Airways. IAG reported Q1 net profit of €176 million, reversing last year's €4 million loss, with revenue at €7.044 billion compared to €6.429 billion in the previous year.

🏕 The Balearic Parliament validated a decree law on a "black day" for the islands, authorizing the repurposing of family homes for tourists, affecting 90,000 places of approximately 500,000 residential units. The decree contrasts with other destinations like Madrid, Málaga, and Barcelona, where mayors prioritize tourists with higher spending capacity. This move signifies a massive shift from local identity and promotes mass tourism, criticized by unions and travel agencies, despite its promised benefits to families. Critics argue the decree lacks legal or logical basis, as properties were bought for residential use.

🛫 Turkish Airlines aims to acquire a stake in Air Europa, currently owned by the Hidalgo family's Globalia. Competing with Air France-KLM and Lufthansa, the deal is led by Javier Hidalgo and seeks a new partner by the end of summer. Globalia wishes to maintain majority control, limiting sale shares to a maximum of 30%. IAG holds 20% of Air Europa, and PJT Partners is working on financial restructuring to ensure viability and attract investors.

🏨 Sidetours Incoming Services became the exclusive representative of Eurowings Holidays in the Balearic Islands, Iberian Peninsula, and Portugal. The Lufthansa Group tour operator, amid international expansion, trusts Sidetours, led by Bernardo Quetglas, to grow in both countries. Eurowings operates over 100 destinations in more than 50 countries with a 100-aircraft fleet, offering 440 weekly flights to Mallorca in high season, making it a leader in direct European connections.

🏖 On April 23, Spain's National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) approved the acquisition of Meeting Point Spain, owned by FTI Touristik, by Bluesea Hotels. Meeting Point's portfolio includes 15 hotels with 1,922 rooms across the Canary Islands—Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Lanzarote, and Fuerteventura—employing about 1,500 workers. Following the group's bankruptcy, the administrator sought buyers while maintaining lease contracts. Bluesea assumes the restructuring debt and injects capital, supported by its main shareholder, Portobello Capital (93.5%), and its recent refusal of a €25 million aid from SEPI. With this purchase, Bluesea's room count nears 7,000, strengthening its presence in the Canaries with over 3,800 rooms.

🚀 22 airlines globally acquired 496 Airbus A321XLRs, with 463 for airlines and 33 for leasing companies AerCap, Boc Aviation, Air Lease Corporation, and Aviation Capital Group. IndiGo leads with 69 orders, followed by United and American Airlines with 50 each, and Wizz Air with 47. Iberia and Aer Lingus received the first units, with 8 and 6 orders respectively. The A321XLR offers a range of up to 4,700 nautical miles (8,700 kilometers) and is 30% more fuel-efficient per seat than previous generation aircraft.