Iberojet codeshare: identify the operating carrier
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The airline named most prominently on an itinerary is not always the airline legally responsible for a disruption. For an EU261 claim, start with the carrier that performed—or was due to perform—the affected flight. Iberojet is itself a brand used by Spain's Evelop Airlines S.L. and Portugal's ORBEST S.A. The original coupon should normally reveal E9/Evelop or 6O/Orbest, while a codeshare, wet lease or replacement may introduce another operator.
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Enter your route, date and type of disruption. We will check whether your case qualifies for a claim under EU 261/2004 or UK261.
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Claim up to €600 for a delayed or cancelled flight.
Choose the situation that applies to your flight:
This guide reflects the law on 9 September 2026. The reform adopted in July 2026 has deferred application; its future nine-month claim period is not current.
Read the document fields in the right order
Look first for “operated by”, then the operating flight code, e-ticket coupon and boarding pass. The ticketing airline, marketing code, package organiser and travel agency are secondary clues, not substitutes. Save the original itinerary before the app replaces it after rebooking.
E9 generally points to Evelop and 6O to Orbest. Both companies are EU carriers. An Iberojet logo alone does not distinguish them, and the seller that collected payment does not become the operating air carrier merely by issuing the voucher.
Operator status can change inbound coverage
Every flight departing the EU can enter EU261's territorial scope regardless of whether the operator is EU-based. For a flight beginning in a third country and ending in the EU, the operator's EU status is crucial. Thus an Evelop-operated Punta Cana–Madrid flight or Orbest-operated Cancún–Lisbon flight may qualify on the inbound limb.
If a non-EU partner actually operates that return under an Iberojet marketing code, the answer can change. Arrival in Europe, a euro fare and a European organiser do not repair the missing carrier condition. UK261 likewise needs its own territorial connection and cannot be inferred from English paperwork.
Codeshare, substitution and wet lease require different evidence
In a codeshare, one airline markets a seat on another's flight. The physical operator is normally central to the statutory claim. An operational substitution can change the aircraft and carrier close to departure; keep both the original and revised notices. A wet lease can be legally more nuanced because aircraft and crew may come from one undertaking while another retains operational responsibility. Do not decide from the livery alone.
Ask Iberojet to identify the operating carrier and basis if documents conflict. Airport screens, crew announcements and aircraft registration are supporting evidence, but the contract and operational arrangement should be addressed. Send the claim to the operator indicated by reliable records, while copying the seller only for its separate contractual role.
Worked example: a Caribbean return with two airline names
Daniel's package voucher says Iberojet, his e-ticket shows an agency stock number, and the affected Havana–Madrid coupon says “E9, operated by Evelop Airlines S.L.” The flight arrives four hours 40 minutes late. Because Evelop is an EU carrier operating into the EU, the direction can be covered. Daniel leads his claim with the operated-by line, route and final arrival—not the tour operator's logo.
Now assume the replacement notice names a non-EU airline as operator before departure. Daniel must establish which carrier was due to perform the disrupted flight and who actually assumed operational responsibility. He should attach both versions and request clarification rather than promising himself EUR 600 based on branding.
His lost first hotel night remains a possible package issue. Meals during the airport wait are care costs. A broken case is a Montreal baggage file. None proves who owes fixed compensation.
Match the correct respondent to each remedy
The operating air carrier answers the EU261 performance claim, including possible fixed compensation and applicable care. The organiser addresses package performance, accommodation and transfers under package law. The ticket seller may administer changes or a fare refund under its booking arrangement. A baggage claim is directed using the carrier's baggage process and Montreal evidence.
Keep these files coordinated but separate. An organiser refund of a hotel night should not be claimed again as an airline expense. Fixed compensation, however, is not simply reimbursement of that hotel loss.
Present an operator-focused claim.
In Iberojet's form, state the original route, direction, flight code and full operated-by wording. Attach the coupon, boarding pass, substitution message and final-arrival evidence. Use the booking locator and surname and preserve every submitted field.
If rejected for “wrong airline”, ask which entity Iberojet considers the operating carrier and on what document. Spanish or Portuguese escalation depends on the relevant event and departure, not the agency language. Only after operator and territory are settled should distance, notice, delay and extraordinary circumstances be argued.
More Iberojet guides
Questions about Iberojet operating carriers
Is Iberojet the same legal airline as Evelop?
Iberojet is the brand; Evelop is a Spanish operating company, while Orbest is Portuguese. Identify the entity on the coupon.
Does the flight number always identify the operator?
Not always. Codeshares and substitutions can display marketing codes. The operated-by statement and operational records are stronger.
Who is responsible when an agency sold the package?
The operating carrier handles EU261 flight performance. The organiser and agency retain their own package or sales obligations.
Can a non-EU substitute affect a return claim?
Yes. On a third-country-to-EU direction, operator status can determine territorial coverage, so preserve substitution evidence.
Is the future nine-month period relevant now?
No. Application of the July 2026 reform is deferred, so it is not current law as at 9 September 2026.
Official sources
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