It all started in Cáceres, where Juan José Hidalgo opened the first Halcón Viajes office.

Juan José Hidalgo launches Travelplan, expanding Globalia’s reach in the tourism sector.

Majority stake in Air Europa secured by Hidalgo.

Air Europa begins domestic scheduled flights in Spain, competing with Iberia.

Hidalgo creates the holding company Globalia Corporación Empresarial to group his businesses.

Globalia sets up its central services in a new corporate building in Llucmajor (Balearic Islands).

Air Europa incorporates its first six Boeing 737-800 NGs into the fleet.

Halcón Viajes and Travelplan begin operations in Portugal.

The hotel division opens its first property. 

Air Europa adds its first Boeing 767-300 for long-haul routes and launches Fidelitas, its customer loyalty program.

The air division undergoes restructuring following the 9/11 attacks.

Globalia Handling, the airport ground services division, is created.

Globalia acquires the travel agency network of Viajes Ecuador.

Air Europa strengthens alliances with airlines such as Aeropostal, Air France, Air Luxor, Alitalia, Continental Airlines, KLM, Malev, Southern Winds, and Tunisair.

Iberotours is founded, with Touring Club as its commercial brand — a tour operator focused on Disneyland Paris.

Globalia Handling expands internationally, becoming the second-largest ground handler at five Moroccan airports.

Air Europa and Travelplan launch operations in France through Globalia France.

Air Europa becomes the first Spanish airline to operate direct flights to China.

Globalia Handling consolidates its services under a single brand: Groundforce.

The handling division grows with new concessions at Spanish airports, while the hotel division surpasses 10,000 rooms.

Globalia acquires Iberrail and a stake in MK Tours, a Miami-based tour operator focused on the U.S. domestic market.

Air Europa joins SkyTeam as an associate member and orders eight Boeing 787s, to be delivered starting in 2016.

Contract signed for the purchase of eleven Embraer 195 aircraft.

The hotel division now exceeds 11,400 rooms.

Viajes Halcón begins expanding its franchise network.

Globalia acquires a 75% stake in Tubillete.com, an online airline ticketing platform.

Air Europa starts operating its first four Embraer 195 aircraft.

Travelplan opens offices in France and Italy.

Latitudes and Welcome Incoming Services are created to manage key destinations for Globalia with their own infrastructure.

Air Europa launches routes to Lima and Miami and becomes a full SkyTeam member.

The inbound division begins managing the online booking platform Welcomebeds. Additionally, the group integrates its own inbound travel agencies — previously operated by third parties — in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, and London.

Globalia completes the acquisition of MK Tours with the remaining 50%. 

All divisions across the group undergo a major restructuring.

Air Europa achieves a record year in route expansion across Europe (Brussels, Geneva), Africa (Banjul, Gambia), and the Americas (Santa Cruz de la Sierra).

Gobalia sells its handling operations in Mexico.

The retail division restructures a large number of travel agencies.

The airline division strengthens its short- and medium-haul network and continues expanding long-haul operations.

Globalia reorganizes its hotel division under the Be Live brand, grouping 31 establishments into six categories: Be Live Collection (5 stars), Be Live Experience Hotels (4 stars and 4-star superior), Be Live Family Resorts (for families), Be Live Adults Only (for couples and friends), Be Smart Hotels (value-focused), and Be Live City Center and Airport (urban).

Air Europa signs a contract with Boeing to acquire 14 Boeing 787-9 aircraft, scheduled for delivery between 2020 and 2022.

Air Europa launches a modernization plan, revamping its image and introducing the SUMA loyalty program.

Aeronova joins the airline division, which signs agreements to purchase twenty Boeing 737-8 MAX aircraft.

Air Europa becomes the first Spanish airline to operate a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Air Europa Express is launched, flying four Embraer 195s and one ATR-72 by year-end.

The retail division introduces the Geomoon brand for its managed travel agency services.

Globalia Corporate Travel and Globalia Meetings and Events are created, focusing on the MICE segment.

Air Europa launches inter-island flights in the Canary Islands and becomes the first European airline to operate direct flights between Spain and Honduras (San Pedro Sula). The long-haul fleet grows to eight Boeing 787-8 aircraft by year-end. 

Air Europa Express consolidates its operations by incorporating the entire Embraer fleet (11 E195s) and three ATR-72s.

The airline division continues expanding its long-haul network, consolidating routes to Recife, San Pedro Sula, Marrakech, and inter-island connections in the Canary Islands. Air Europa also launches its new cargo unit: Air Europa Cargo.

In partnership with the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Globalia launches Wakalua — the first global hub for tourism innovation, supporting and discovering startups and projects.

A report by German organization Atmosfair ranks Air Europa as the most environmentally efficient network airline in the world.

Air Europa now has its own dedicated cargo division: Air Europa Cargo.

Globalia acquires Marsol, a bed bank with over 25 years of experience and hundreds of thousands of hotel rooms in its portfolio. 

Globalia acquires Marsol, a company with a quarter of a century of history dedicated to the wholesale of bed banks in Spain, with a supply of hundreds of thousands of hotel rooms.

Air Europa operates its longest commercial passenger flight in the company's history: from Los Angeles to Bali, flying over the Pacific from west to east and covering more than 7,600 nautical miles in less than 17 hours, as part of the repatriation and loading of material.

Air Europa is the first airline in the world to integrate Amadeus' digital passenger health check, allowing passengers to certify their health documentation at check-in without having to leave the airline's website or app.

Air Europa embarks on a new phase of expansion and incorporates five new Boeing 787 Dreamliners and six Boeing 737s, further strengthening its strategic role at the Madrid-Barajas Airport hub and consolidating its position as a key airline connecting Europe and America. The airline takes a giant step forward by launching, together with TravelX, the first air ticket in NFT format, for which it won an award at the FTE Pionner Awards 2022, and by participating in the first air cargo shipment to Latin America to be managed entirely digitally. 

The Air Europa Suma loyalty program reaches 2 million customers worldwide. The airline lands for the first time in Santorini, doubling its presence in Greece during the summer season. As part of its commitment to sustainable development, the airline becomes a member of the Governing Council of the Air Transport Sustainability Alliance and creates the ‘Air Europa’ forest in Riba de Saelices, Guadalajara. Martín Berasategui's cuisine also arrives in Air Europa's Economy Class and the airline activates a bidding system to enjoy its Business Class. Signing of a multimodal agreement with iryo that allows the purchase of combined train and air travel on a single ticket. Also this year, Air Europa receives the APEX four-star airline rating, receives the “Empresa Solidaria” seal from Manos Unidas and wins a double award for its most sustainable flight of the year in SkyTeam's “The Sustainable Flight Challenge”.

Air Europa opens route to Santiago de los Caballeros and resumes operations to Venice, while continuing its expansion plan with new codeshare agreements to emerging tourist destinations in Asia and Africa, expanding its flight offer and consolidating its position as one of the main connecting airlines between Europe and the rest of the world. Air Europa expands its bidding system to access XL seats at the best price.