Anisec Luftfahrt GmbH, better known under its Level flying brand, was a short-lived Vienna-based subsidiary of the Spanish-British airline group IAG. As the Austrian certificate holder for Level’s short and medium-haul flights, it lasted barely two years before folding under the impact of the Covid pandemic.
Photo: Olivier CABARET · License: CC BY 2.0 · Source: Wikimedia Commons
Founded as an IAG Subsidiary in Vienna
Anisec Luftfahrt was incorporated in November 2017 as a subsidiary of the Spanish IAG brand Vueling. The original plan was to fly from Vienna under the brand “Vueling Austria” if IAG succeeded in acquiring the insolvent Niki. After Niki Lauda’s LaudaMotion instead won the bidding process for Niki, IAG announced on 28 June 2018 that it would deploy four former Air Berlin Airbus A321s under the Level brand instead. As a first step, IAG had three Airbus A321-200s registered in Austria, with the registrations OE-LCN, OE-LCP and OE-LCR.
Short and Medium-Haul Flights From Vienna, Then Amsterdam
Level began flying from Vienna Schwechat on 17 July 2018, with 14 destinations planned through 13 August 2018. On 14 March 2019, a second base in Amsterdam was announced, opening on 6 April 2019 with seven routes and three Airbus A320s transferred from Vueling. On 21 December 2019, the company was renamed Level Europe. By the time it closed, its fleet comprised six aircraft, two Airbus A320s and four Airbus A321s, serving a network of 18 destinations.
Insolvency Due to Covid
In March 2020, the fleet was grounded as travel demand collapsed because of the Covid pandemic. On 18 June 2020, the company filed for insolvency and ceased all flights the same day.
Further reading: Niki · Austrian Aviation History
Sources (Selection)
- Wikipedia: Level Europe
- aerotelegraph.com: Anisec, Niki successor Level starts short-haul flights in Vienna (German)
- aerotelegraph.com: Level Austria takes over Amsterdam base from Vueling (German)
Part of the Austrian Aviation History section. An independent, private history project with no connection to Austrian Airlines AG or the Lufthansa Group.