 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1997 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 1998 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 28 March 2005 | ||||||
| Operating bases | EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg | ||||||
| Frequent-flyer program |
| ||||||
| Fleet size | 4 | ||||||
| Parent company | |||||||
| Headquarters | Saint-Louis, Haut-Rhin, France | ||||||
Crossair Europe (also known as European Continental Airways) was an airline headquartered on the grounds of EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg in Saint-Louis, Haut Rhin, France, near Basel, Switzerland. [1] It operated scheduled services to destinations in Italy and France.
In 1998, Crossair launched Crossair Europe, as a subsidiary airline, operating flights from the French side of EuroAirport to circumvent challenges of European Union restrictions on Swiss air traffic and routes. [2] [3] [4] Initial flights were offered to Marseilles, Milan and Venice, starting in April 1998. [5] Swissair held a majority stake of 60% in the new airline, whilst Crossair retained 40%. [6] Initially Crossair Europe operated dry-lease Saab 340B aircraft, later moving to the larger Saab 2000 models. [7] The airline helped boost Crossair's 1998 passenger total to a record 4.43 million. [8] In combination with Crossair, Swissair boosted destinations served from Basel to 71 in 2000 (up from 39 Crossair destinations in 1990). [9]
When Swissair became Swiss International Airlines, Crossair Europe remained owned by the new airline as the 99.9% shareholder. [10] In March 2005 it was announced that Crossair Europe would be closed by the end of the month and their routes were taken over by Swiss. [11] [12]
Crossair Europe utilized a similar livery to Crossair, predominantly white aircraft with red and blue icons across the fuselage. The tailfin however, retained the red of the Swiss national flag, but replaced with a white arrow, with a European Union star circle behind. The airline also later utilized planes with a "Eurocross" branding across the fuselage, with the European Union flag given prominence on the tail.
During its eight-year existence, Crossair Europe operated the following aircraft:[ citation needed ]
| Aircraft | Total | Introduced | Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saab 340B | 3 | 1998 | 2005 | |
| Saab 2000 | 1 | 2004 | 2005 | Operated for Swiss International Air Lines. |
