Azzurra Air

Last updated
Azzurra Air
Azzurra Air logo.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign
ZSAZIAzzurra
FoundedDecember 1995
Commenced operationsDecember 1996
Ceased operationsMarch 2004
Focus cities Rome and Bergamo, Italy
Fleet size12
Destinations54
Parent company Air Malta,
Air International Services
Headquarters Milan, Italy
Key peopleFausto Capalbo
(Chairman, Board of Directors)
Website www.azzurraair.it

Azzurra Air was a scheduled and charter airline based in Milan, Italy and flying to Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal and other Mediterranean destinations.

Contents

History

The airline was established in December 1995 and was a joint venture by the Italian investment group Air International Services (51%) and by Air Malta (49%). It started operations in December 1996. AIS shares were purchased by UK based 7 Group in 2003, anticipating the purchase of Air Malta shares later that year.

In November 2003 it was announced that Azzurra Air was to take over French airline Air Littoral, but this fell through in the following month as Azzurra Air was in financial difficulties. [1] In March 2004 operations were suspended when its regional fleet was withdrawn by lessor and co-owner Air Malta due to non-payment of leases. The company was declared bankrupt in July 2004. It had five Airbus A320-200 aircraft on order at the time.

Services

Azzurra Air only operated one scheduled service from Bergamo to Rome using a Boeing 737-700. All other services were charter operations.

Fleet

An Azzurra Airbus A320 at Manchester Airport Azzurra Air Airbus A320 Lebeda.jpg
An Azzurra Airbus A320 at Manchester Airport

The aircraft fleet included:

Azzurra Air Historical Fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredRemark
Airbus A320-200 220032004EI-DBC, EI-DBD
on lease
Boeing 737-300 1199920009H-ADH
leased from Air Malta
Boeing 737-700 719992004all on lease<
BAe 146-200
BAE Systems Avro 146-RJ70, Alitalia Express (Azzurra Air) AN0083425.jpg
119981999G-TBIC
leased from Aer Lingus
Avro RJ70 519972007
Avro RJ85 319962005

References

  1. Air Littoral future still uncertain