BA parent raises Level, closes Open Skies

International Airlines Group, parent of British Air, Iberia and Aer Lingus, is expanding its budget division, Level, with new flights to New York from Paris Orly.

At the same time, it's closing down another of its brands, Open Skies, a business-class carrier that's operated flights on those same Orly to New York routes.

In addition to the New York (actually Newark) flights, Level will also add flights from Orly to Montreal and to Guadaloupe and Martinique in the French Caribbean. At Level's existing Barcelona hub, a route to Boston is being added.

Level is aimed at keeping market share in a market where lower-cost carriers such as Norwegian have been making big strides. IAG says its attempt is successful and that Level will turn a profit this year—and has plans to expand further.