notitur.com September 27, 2026
Airlines1 min read

A Level pilot shows what a Barcelona-Buenos Aires really burns

JSBy Joan SanzCurated by Joan Sanz. · September 27, 2026 · Follow on LinkedIn
Voice reading · ~1 min

A Level captain, Ramón Vallés, has posted a video on social media walking through the numbers the crew handles before a Barcelona-Buenos Aires departure, as reported by Preferente. This is not a fun fact. It is the fine print of how a long-haul flight gets planned today.

Vallés goes over fuel calculations, cargo weight and the buffer kept aside for diversions or holding. On a route that long, every tonne matters and the captain decides what goes on board before signing the flight plan. There is no room for improvisation there.

The useful takeaway for the industry is simple. On long-haul routes, efficiency is not fixed on the ground with a good ticket price. It is played out in weight, cruise altitude and weather. I see a lesson here for revenue and for operations, because what the passenger pays up front starts being decided down in the hold and in the tank.

Quick questions

Who is Ramón Vallés and why is he talking about this?
He is a Level captain who shares operational details on social media. In this video he explains the fuel calculations for a Barcelona-Buenos Aires flight.
What is checked before a long-haul flight?
Cargo and passenger weight, fuel reserved for diversions or holding, and weather conditions. Each variable changes the flight plan the captain signs.
Why does fuel matter so much on a route like this?
It is the main cost on any long-haul leg. One extra or one fewer tonne changes the actual burn and the economics of the segment.
Does this affect the price passengers pay?
Indirectly yes. Fuel cost shapes fares, but ticket price, load factor and competition on the route also come into play.
Is this video useful to understand revenue management?
It helps. It shows that long-haul efficiency is decided by weight, altitude and weather, not only by the fare sold on the website.
Does Level operate long-haul routes from Spain?
Yes, including the Barcelona-Buenos Aires mentioned in the video. It is a classic long-haul leg with many hours in the air without stops.

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