Long-haul Air Europa flights will be sold through budget carrier Ryanair’s website, the airlines have confirmed.
Ryanair’s circa 130 million customers will now be able to book flights to Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Mexico and the USA among 20 routes offered by Air Europa to 16 countries.
The move follows the launch of Ryanair’s connecting flight service via Rome Fiumicino last month and means Air Europa has doubled its European connectivity by adding 53 cities.
The second phase of the partnership will be launched later this year and will allow Ryanair customers to connect onto Air Europa long haul flights through Madrid. Ryanair is continuing discussions with other long haul airlines on potential feed and connecting flight partnerships.
Ryanair chief executive, Michael O’Leary, said: “Ryanair operates over 50 short haul routes to/from Madrid and now our customers can book flights on Air Europa long haul routes to destinations including Buenos Aires, Havana and New York.
The partnership is part of a wider Ryanair programme called Always Getting Better as it bids to become the ‘Amazon of travel.’
“We continue to speak to a number of other long haul airlines about potential connecting flight partnerships,” added O’Leary.
Globalia Group chief executive, Javier Hidalgo, said: “This partnership with Ryanair gives us great satisfaction and it puts us at the forefront of business and allows us to strengthen our competitiveness.
“This agreement consolidates Air Europa as the best price-quality option to fly between Europe and America.”