Spanair

Last updated
Spanair
Spanair Logo.svg
IATA ICAO Callsign
JKJKKSPANAIR
FoundedDecember 1986 (1986-12)
Commenced operationsMarch 1988 (1988-03)
Ceased operations27 January 2012 (2012-01-27)
Hubs Barcelona
Focus cities
Frequent-flyer program Spanair Star [1]
Alliance Star Alliance (2003–2012)
Fleet size27
Destinations40
Parent company
  • SAS Group (1986–2009)
  • Consortium of Investors (led by Consorci de Turisme de Barcelona and Catalana d'Iniciatives) (80.1%)
  • iberiojet (19.9%)
Headquarters L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
Key peopleMike Szücs (CEO) [2]

Spanair S.A. was a Spanish airline, with its head office in the Spanair Building in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. Until 2009, it was a subsidiary of the SAS Group; the same parent company in control of Scandinavian Airlines and held slightly under 20% of the company. [3] Spanair provided a scheduled passenger network within Spain and Europe, with an extension to West Africa. Worldwide charters were also flown for tour companies. Its main hub was Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, with focus cities at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport and Palma de Mallorca Airport. The airline had 3,161 employees [2] and was a Star Alliance member from 2003 until its demise on 27 January 2012.

Contents

History

First Spanair logo (1986-1999) Spanair first logo.png
First Spanair logo (1986–1999)
Second Spanair logo (1999-2009) Spanair former logo (2007).svg
Second Spanair logo (1999–2009)

Foundation and early years

The airline was established in December 1986 and began operations in March 1988. It was set up as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines and Viajes Marsans, and began operations with European charters. Long-haul flights to the United States, Mexico and the Dominican Republic were launched in 1991, followed by domestic scheduled flights in March 1994. The airline flew long-haul flights with Boeing 767-300ER aircraft to Washington and Buenos Aires in the late 1990s.

Spanair joined the Star Alliance on 1 May 2003. [4]

SAS announced in a press release 13 June 2007 that it would sell its shares in Spanair. [5] The divestment was cancelled on 19 June 2008 due to SAS not being able to sell for a price that it considered to "reflect the underlying value in Spanair." On 30 January 2009, however, a one-euro bid from a group of investors from Catalonia, led by the Consorci de Turisme de Barcelona and Catalana d'Initiatives, was later accepted, whereupon SAS became a minority shareholder. [3]

A report in the British newspaper The Times on the day of the 2008 Madrid crash suggests that staff were threatening strike action due to concerns about the company's viability. [6]

In 2009 the airline asked for public input on a new logo, [7] with a winner being officially confirmed on 13 May 2009. As of June 2009, Spanair began applying the new corporate identity to their aircraft. [8]

Demise

On 25 January 2011, the company was in an "Emergency Financial Situation". The Catalan government approved a €10.5 million loan plan in order to save it. Revenue improved and the company began cutting costs. Financially troubled during its last few years, Spanair ended operations on 27 January 2012, after Qatar Airways pulled out of talks to inject cash into the airline. [9] As a result, SAS had a write-down of 1.7 billion Swedish kronor ($251 million U.S.). [10] Ana Pastor, the development minister of Spain, said that the Spanish government may fine the airline 9 million euros (US$12 million) after breaking serious aviation security rules by shutting down without proper notice. [11] [12] The carrier said all flights will remain suspended, but it did not say whether it planned to file for bankruptcy. [13] [14] The last passenger flight was JK1326 from Trondheim to Las Palmas.

Corporate affairs

Head office

Spanair head office in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona Spanair headquarters Hospitalet.JPG
Spanair head office in l'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona

Spanair's head office was located in the Spanair Building (Edifici Spanair) in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, near Barcelona. [15]

Previously Spanair's head office was in the Spanair Building on the grounds of Palma de Mallorca Airport in Palma de Mallorca. [16] In 2008, during the changes in ownership, Spanair said that its head office would remain in Palma de Mallorca, despite rumors that the company would relocate its head office to Barcelona. [16] In 2009 the company announced that it planned to relocate its corporate offices to Barcelona. [17] In May 2009 Spanair made Barcelona its registered domicile. The airline began to search for a site for the Spanair headquarters in Barcelona. [18] In June of that year around 200 employees protested outside of the Spanair offices in Palma, saying that the timetable to move the offices was too hasty. [17]

Service concept

For economy-class passengers traveling within Western Europe the airline offered a buy on board service offering food and drinks for purchase. [19] Spanair also had revamped their own frequent flyer programme which was renamed Spanair Star. It was innovative for allowing members to redeem points immediately, in the form of a discount on a future flight.

Sponsorship

Between 1995 and 2005, Spanair was the main kit sponsor of Spanish football club RCD Mallorca.

Destinations

Codeshare agreements

Spanair had codeshare agreements with the following airlines until of January 2012, [20] Airlines marked with * were members of Star Alliance at the time of Spanair's collapse.

Fleet

Spanair Airbus A320-200 in a hybrid livery with old titles and new tailfin design Airbus A320-232, Spanair AN1973054.jpg
Spanair Airbus A320-200 in a hybrid livery with old titles and new tailfin design
Spanair Airbus A320-200 in the final full livery which was only applied to a few aircraft Airbus A320-232, Spanair AN1669070.jpg
Spanair Airbus A320-200 in the final full livery which was only applied to a few aircraft
Spanair Airbus A320-200 in Star Alliance livery Airbus A320-232 - Spanair - EC-INM - 200503051646.jpg
Spanair Airbus A320-200 in Star Alliance livery
Spanair McDonnell Douglas MD-83 in the former livery (2005) McDonnell Douglas MD-83 (DC-9-83) - Spanair - EC-FXA - LEMD - 20050305.jpg
Spanair McDonnell Douglas MD-83 in the former livery (2005)

Final fleet

The Spanair fleet consisted of the following aircraft at the time of closure. [21] [22] [23] [24]

Spanair fleet
AircraftIn
service		PassengersNotes
CYTotal
Airbus A320-200 1948108156Flexible two-class layout
—180180
Airbus A321-200 5—212212
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 1—153153Flexible two-class layout
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 1—153153Leased from Scandinavian Airlines
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 1—125125Flexible two-class layout
Total27

Retired fleet

Spanair operated the following aircraft before its closure: [24]

Spanair former fleet
AircraftTotalIntroducedRetiredNotes
Boeing 717-200 420072011Transferred to Blue1
Boeing 757-200 219961998Leased from Airtours International Airways
419992000Leased from Air2000, Air Holland, and Monarch Airlines
Boeing 767-300ER 319912002One leased from Lauda Air
Fokker 100 320052008Leased from Girjet
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 119891989
McDonnell Douglas MD-81 320052006Leased from Scandinavian Airlines

Accidents and incidents

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">L'Hospitalet de Llobregat</span> Municipality in Catalonia, Spain

L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, often shortened to L'Hospitalet or just L'H, is a municipality in the Barcelonès comarca, in Catalonia (Spain). It is part of the Barcelona metropolitan area, the Barcelona province, and of the Barcelona conurbation.

Iberia, legally incorporated as Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A. Operadora, Sociedad Unipersonal, is the flag carrier of Spain. Founded in 1927 and based in Madrid, it operates an international network of services from its main base of Madrid–Barajas Airport. Iberia, with Iberia Regional and with Iberia Express, is a part of International Airlines Group. In addition to transporting passengers and freight, Iberia Group carries out related activities, such as aircraft maintenance, handling in airports, IT systems and in-flight catering. Iberia Group airlines fly to over 109 destinations in 39 countries, and a further 90 destinations through code-sharing agreements with other airlines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport</span> Airport in Spain

Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport, and also known as Barcelona-El Prat Airport, is an international airport located 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of the centre of Barcelona, lying in the municipalities of El Prat de Llobregat, Viladecans, and Sant Boi, in Catalonia, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scandinavian Airlines</span> Flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden

Scandinavian Airlines, more commonly known and styled as SAS, is a Danish state-owned airline and the flag carrier of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. SAS is an abbreviation of the company's full name, Scandinavian Airlines System or legally Scandinavian Airlines System Denmark-Norway-Sweden. Part of the SAS Group and headquartered at the SAS Frösundavik Office Building in Solna, Sweden, the airline operates 180 aircraft to 90 destinations. The airline's main hub is at Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport, with connections to 109 destinations around the world. Stockholm Arlanda Airport is the second largest hub, with Oslo Airport, Gardermoen being the third major hub of SAS. Minor hubs also exist at Bergen Airport, Flesland, Göteborg Landvetter Airport, Stavanger Airport, and Trondheim Airport. SAS Cargo is an independent, wholly owned subsidiary of Scandinavian Airlines and its main office is at Copenhagen Airport.

Futura International Airways was an airline with its head office in the Zona Facturación on the property of Palma de Mallorca Airport in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It operated scheduled services and charter flights for tour operators and other airlines, in Europe, as well as wet lease and ad hoc charters. Its main base was Palma de Mallorca Airport. After failing to re-finance itself the company ceased trading on the 8 September 2008, leaving many passengers stranded in and around Spain.

Snowflake was a low-cost airline that operated out of Stockholm, Sweden, and Copenhagen, Denmark between 30 March 2003 and 30 October 2004. Owned by the SAS Group, it was organized as a business unit within Scandinavian Airlines, operating as a virtual airline using their crew and aircraft. Snowflake served a total 28 destinations from its bases at Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Copenhagen Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vueling</span> Spanish low-cost airline

Vueling S.A. is a Spanish low-cost airline based at Viladecans in Greater Barcelona with hubs at Barcelona–El Prat Airport (main), Paris-Orly Airport in Paris, France, Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome, Italy (secondary). It is the largest airline in Spain, measured by fleet size and number of destinations. As of 2021, Vueling serves 122 destinations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and carried more than 34 million passengers in 2019. Since 2013, it has been an operating company of International Airlines Group, the parent company of British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air Greenland</span> Flag carrier of Greenland

Air Greenland A/S, also known as Greenlandair, is the flag carrier of Greenland, owned by the Greenlandic Government. It operates a fleet of 28 aircraft, including 2 airliners used for transatlantic and charter flights, 8 fixed-wing aircraft primarily serving the domestic network, and 18 helicopters feeding passengers from the smaller communities into the domestic airport network. Flights to heliports in the remote settlements are operated on contract with the government of Greenland.

Spantax S.A. was a former Spanish leisure airline headquartered in Madrid that operated from 6 October 1959 to 29 March 1988. Spantax was one of the first Spanish airlines to operate tourist charter flights between European and North American cities and popular Spanish holiday destinations and was considered a major force in developing 20th-century mass tourism in Spain. Its popularity and image faded from the 1970s onward when a series of crashes and incidents revealed safety deficits, which, combined with rising fuel costs and increasing competition, resulted in the company facing severe financial difficulties that led to its demise in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blue Wings</span> Former German charter airline

Blue Wings AG was a charter airline based in Germany, focusing on serving Turkey, the Middle East and Russia from its base at Düsseldorf Airport. The headquarters were located on the airport property.

Lte International Airways S.A. was a Spanish charter airline based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It operated passenger charter services throughout Europe. Its main base was Son Sant Joan Airport, Palma de Mallorca with hubs at Tenerife South Airport, Gran Canaria Airport, Lanzarote Airport, Fuerteventura Airport and Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Inverness Airport</span> Airport in Inverness, Scotland

Inverness Airport is an international airport situated at Dalcross, 7 NM north-east of the city of Inverness, Scotland. It is owned by Highlands and Islands Airports Limited (HIAL). The airport is the main gateway for travellers to Inverness and the North of Scotland with a range of scheduled services throughout the United Kingdom, and various scheduled services to Continental Europe. Charter and freight flights operate throughout the UK and Europe. Latest figures state 946,391 passengers passed through the airport in 2019. The airport is also headquarters to Dalcross Handling which now operates across Scotland.


Quantum Air was an airline based in Madrid, Spain. It operated domestic scheduled services within Spain, as well as charter and ACMI operations all over Europe. Its fleet was originally wet-leased to Spanair for use on domestic and international routes, but since 14 September 2008, they have operated on their own.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reus Airport</span> Airport

Reus Airport is located by the beaches of Costa Daurada, equidistant in relation to the town of Constantí and the city of Reus and approximately 8 km (5.0 mi) from the city centre of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain. The airport receives a large amount of tourist traffic from passengers destined for the beach resorts of Salou and Cambrils as well as for the centre of Barcelona, which is approximately 88 km (55 mi) to the northeast. It is also close to one of Europe's largest theme resorts, PortAventura World, and the Mountains of Prades, a Mediterranean forest in the comarca of Baix Camp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Málaga Airport</span> International airport serving Costa del Sol, Malaga, Spain

Málaga Airport, officially Málaga–Costa del Sol Airport since June 2011, is the fourth busiest airport in Spain after Madrid–Barajas, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca. It is significant for Spanish tourism as the main international airport serving the Costa del Sol. It is 8 km (5.0 mi) southwest of Málaga and 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Torremolinos. The airport has flight connections to over 60 countries worldwide, and over 14.4 million passengers passed through it in 2015. In 2017, 18.6 million passengers passed through Málaga Airport.

Air Madrid Líneas Aéreas S.A. was an airline headquartered in San Sebastián de los Reyes, Community of Madrid, Spain, operating services to Spain, Tenerife, Mexico, South America, Central America, Europe and Israel. It suspended its operations on 15 December 2006, leaving more than 330,000 passengers stranded in Latin America and Spain. Air Comet took over the Latin American routes, but has now ceased operations as well.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clickair</span> Former Spanish low cost airline

Clickair was a low-cost airline that was based in the Parc de Negocis Mas Blau in El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona, Spain. Clickair flew to nearly 40 destinations in Europe. The airline's main base was Barcelona–El Prat Airport with further bases at Málaga, Seville and Valencia. Clickair merged into Vueling on 15 July 2009. The company slogan was Catalan: Vola intel·ligent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spanair Flight 5022</span> August 2008 plane crash in Madrid, Spain

Spanair Flight 5022 or (JK5022/JKK5022) was a scheduled domestic passenger flight from Barcelona–El Prat Airport to Gran Canaria Airport, Spain, with a stopover in Madrid–Barajas Airport that crashed just after take-off from runway 36L at Madrid-Barajas Airport to Gran Canaria Airport at 14:24 CEST (12:24 UTC) on 20 August 2008. The aircraft was a McDonnell Douglas MD-82, registration EC-HFP. Of the 172 passengers and crew on board, 154 died and 18 survived.

Grupo Marsans was a private Spanish consortium mainly dedicated to tour operations. It had operations in Spain, France, Italy, Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, and Argentina, as well as representations in Latin America. Grupo Marsans was a subsidiary of Autobuses Urbanos del Sur, S.A. It was based in Madrid, Spain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palma de Mallorca Airport</span> International airport on the island of Mallorca, Spain

Palma de Mallorca Airport is an international airport located 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Palma, Mallorca, Spain, adjacent to the village of Can Pastilla. In 2020, the airport handled 6.1 million passengers, making it the third busiest airport in Spain, after Madrid–Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat. The airport is the main base for the Spanish carrier Air Europa and also a focus airport for Eurowings, EasyJet, Jet2.com, Ryanair and Vueling. The airport shares runways with the nearby Son Sant Joan Air Force Base, operated by the Spanish Air and Space Force.

References

  1. ↑ "spanair.com". www.spanair.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. 1 2 "spanair.com". www.spanair.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Definitive agreement regarding the sale of Spanair signed". January 30, 2009. Archived from the original on December 24, 2009.
  4. ↑ "Spanair Star Alliance information" . Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  5. ↑ "New direction will ensure SASs future". June 13, 2007.
  6. ↑ Steve Keenan (August 20, 2008). "'Organised chaos' at crash airline Spanair - A report suggests pilots were planning strikes as Spanair planned job cuts and fewer flights after sell-off plan failed". Times Online.
  7. ↑ "Juntos elegimos la nueva identidad visual de Spanair." Spanair. Retrieved on 6 May 2009.
  8. ↑ "Spanair's new livery on a first A320." Skyliner. Retrieved on 6 June 2009.
  9. ↑ "Spanair to shut down tonight after Qatar Airways declines to invest". 27 January 2012. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  10. ↑ Alder, Tony and Ola Kinnander. "SAS Shares Drop as Spanair Ends Operations: Stockholm Mover." Bloomberg Businessweek . 31 January 2012. Retrieved on 31 January 2012.
  11. ↑ "Spanair shut-down strands passengers." Agence France Presse at the Kuwait Times . Retrieved on 31 January 2012.
  12. ↑ Minder, Raphael and Nicola Clark. "Spain Threatens Fine After Airline's Quick Close." The New York Times . January 30, 2012. Retrieved on January 31, 2012.
  13. ↑ "Shuts Down; Future Uncertain&channel=comm/ Spanair Shuts Down; Future Uncertain" . Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Spanair shutdown strands 23,000 travelers". United Press International. January 28, 2012.
  15. ↑ "Contacts." Spanair. Retrieved on 29 December 2009. "Edifici Spanair. Plaça d'Europa 54-56, 08902 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona)"
  16. 1 2 "Spanair to retain HQ in Palma." The Mallorca. 23 December 2008. Retrieved on 18 October 2009.
  17. 1 2 "Spanair workers demonstrate against move to Barcelona." thinkSpain, Wednesday 17 June 2009. Retrieved on 18 October 2009.
  18. ↑ "Spanair moves its registered domicile to Barcelona." Invest in Catalonia. 14 May 2009. Retrieved on 18 October 2009.
  19. ↑ "Menu and Minibar." Spanair. Accessed March 15, 2011.
  20. ↑ "spanair.com". www.spanair.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Spanair on ch-aviation". ch-aviation. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  22. ↑ "spanair.com". www.spanair.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  23. ↑ "Seatmaestro page for Spanair". Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  24. 1 2 "Spanair Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  25. ↑ "Passengers in Liverpool plane drama". 10 May 2001. Retrieved 13 November 2017– via news.bbc.co.uk.
  26. ↑ "Passengers Survive Liverpool Plane Crash". En.people.cn. 2001-05-11. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  27. ↑ "ALERT RAISED OVER CRASH PLANE'S UNDERCARRIAGE CRACK. - Free Online Library". www.thefreelibrary.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  28. ↑ "Aug 25 - Spanair-operated jet has technical problems - Hip Hop Universe". www.hiphop-universe.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "Spanish plane that crashed had overheated valve". Associated Press. August 21, 2008.
  30. ↑ "Login". www.fireengineering.com. Retrieved 13 November 2017.

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Spanair at Wikimedia Commons

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.