 | This article needs additional citations for verification .(January 2022) |
 | |||||||
| |||||||
| Founded | 1986 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ceased operations | October 16, 1992 (merged with Alisarda to form Meridiana) | ||||||
| Hubs | |||||||
| Secondary hubs | |||||||
| Fleet size | 4 | ||||||
| Parent company | |||||||
| Headquarters | Palma de Mallorca, Spain | ||||||
Universair was a Spanish airline with headquarters in Palma de Mallorca. The airline operated from 1986 to 1992.
Universair was founded in 1986 by the Matutes Group, as a charter airline.
In 1990, it was acquired by Meridiana Compañía Española de Aviación, S.A. to join, together with Líneas Aéreas Canarias S.A. (LAC) and Euravia, to the regular flight company project led by that holding company, controlled by Shah Karim al-Hussayni, the Aga Khan IV. In December 1990, it changed its corporate name to Meridiana Air, SA, becoming the operating company of the four airlines, and integrating most of the personnel from LAC and Euravia, as well as the fleet of five McDonnell Douglas (82 and 83) from LAC. Throughout 1990 and 1991, in addition to the aforementioned operational integration process, it incorporated four BAe 146-300 for the start of its regular flight operations, practically leaving the charter operation. As of September 1991, regular operations were carried out fundamentally from the Valencia and Barcelona airports, although the operational center was maintained in Palma de Mallorca. It was the first company to enter into direct competition with Iberia on scheduled flights, coinciding with the beginning of the liberalization of European airspace in the early 1990s.
The crisis triggered by the Gulf War, together with the strong resistance and commercial aggressiveness of Iberia, did not accompany the success of the company, which, under the General Management of José Pont Bonell, ceased operations on October 16, 1992.
It merged with the Italian airline Alisarda into the new airline Meridiana, based in Olbia, Italy.[ citation needed ]
The fleet of Universair consisted of the following aircraft: [1]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-300 | 3 | – | TBA | |
| McDonnell Douglas MD-83 | 1 | – | TBA | |
| Total | 4 | 0 |
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.
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.
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. 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 and was a Star Alliance member from 2003 until its demise on 27 January 2012.
Air Europa Líneas Aéreas, S.A.U., branded as Air Europa, is the third-largest Spanish airline after Iberia and Vueling. The airline is headquartered in Llucmajor, Mallorca, Spain; it has its main hub at Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport with focus city operations at Palma de Mallorca Airport and Tenerife North Airport. Air Europa flies to over 44 destinations in Spain, the rest of Europe, South America, North America, the Caribbean, Morocco and Tunisia. Since September 2007, Air Europa has been member of the SkyTeam alliance.
Meridiana Fly S.p.A., operating as Meridiana, was a privately owned Italian airline headquartered in Olbia with its main base at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport. It operated scheduled and charter flights to domestic, European and intercontinental destinations from several Italian bases. Some of its operations were carried out by the old Air Italy under the Meridiana brand. It was owned by Qatar Airways through AQA Holding (49%) and Alisarda S.p.A. (51%), who rebranded the airline as the new Air Italy effective 1 March 2018.
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.
Binter Canarias S.A. is the flag carrier of the Spanish autonomous community of the Canary Islands, based on the grounds of Gran Canaria Airport in Telde, Gran Canaria and Tenerife North Airport, San Cristóbal de La Laguna, Spain. It is a regional air carrier operating inter-island services within the Canary Islands, and other Atlantic islands, it also operates to the Spanish Mainland and some European destinations, mainly in France and Italy. Affiliated airlines operate on behalf of Binter in services to Morocco, mainland Spain, Portugal and Western Sahara.
Hola Airlines was an airline based in Palma de Mallorca, Majorca, Spain. It operated European charter services. Its main base was Son Sant Joan Airport, Palma de Mallorca, with another hub at Madrid Barajas International Airport.
Orbest Orizonia Airlines, S.A., formerly Iberworld Airlines, S.A., was an airline with its head office in the Edificio Orizionia Corporación in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. It operated regular and charter flights to destinations in Europe and the Caribbean, scheduled domestic services, and scheduled international services to Havana. In its 14-year history, Orbest Orizonia flew to four continents and operated routes to over 30 countries. Its main base was Palma de Mallorca Airport. Orbest Orizonia was the air division of the Orizonia Group, Spain's third largest tour operator.
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.
Aviación y Comercio, S.A., doing business as Aviaco, was a Spanish airline headquartered in the Edificio Minister in Madrid.
Iberia Líneas Aéreas de España, S.A., usually shortened to Iberia, is the largest airline of Spain, based in Madrid.
Navegacion y Servicios Aéreos Canarios, better known by its initialism NAYSA, was a regional airline based in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, Spain. It operated scheduled and charter flights, as well as cargo flights, air taxis, air ambulance flights and crew transfers. Its main base was Gran Canaria International Airport.
Viva Air was an airline from Spain that operated during the 1980s and 1990s.
Alisarda S.p.A., operating as Alisarda, was an Italian airline based in Olbia, Sardinia that operated between 1963 and 1991 before it merged with Universair to become Meridiana. As of 2019, Alisarda S.p.A. is a holding company with a 51% stake in Meridiana successor airline Air Italy.
Córdoba Airport is an airport located 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the central business district of the city of Córdoba, Andalusia, Spain.
Transeuropa was a charter airline from Spain that operated from 1965 until 1982.
AlbaStar S.A. is a privately owned Spanish airline headquartered in Palma de Mallorca that carries out scheduled and charter flights.
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.
Lineas Aereas Canarias (LAC) was an airline created in 1984 to initially offer connections in the Canary Islands and excursions to Morocco and Madeira. It started operations in 1985 and ceased operations in 1990.
Media related to Universair at Wikimedia Commons
