Air Europe (Italy)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Predecessor | Airlines of Europe Group (original affiliation) |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Defunct | December 2008 |
| Fate | Brand retired by Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI) |
| Headquarters | Milan Malpensa Airport, Thiene, Milan , Italy |
Area served | Domestic and international routes, including long-haul leisure destinations |
| Parent | Volare Group (until 2004), then Alitalia Group (from 2004 to closure) |
Air Europe was an Italian carrier headquartered at Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy, and at the time of its closure operated under the Alitalia group umbrella.
The airline halted all operations in December 2008 following the decision by Compagnia Aerea Italiana, the intended new owner of Alitalia, to retire the Air Europe brand. Previously, it functioned as a subsidiary within the Volare Group, with its main office located in Thiene, Italy, while its commercial and charter divisions were managed from Milan.
History
Established in 1989, Air Europe commenced flight services on 19 December that year. Originally affiliated with the UK-based Airlines of Europe Group, it transitioned to complete Italian ownership by 1991. The airline inaugurated its first scheduled route to Havana, Cuba in December 1997.
Operating under Volare Airlines as a subsidiary, Air Europe grew into a significant domestic and international airline, maintaining a fleet that included Airbus A320, Boeing 737, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, and Boeing 777 aircraft.
In 2004, the Volare Group S.p.A., which oversaw both Air Europe and Volare Airlines, declared bankruptcy and was subsequently offered for sale by the Italian government. Alitalia secured the purchase with a bid of 38 million euros, although rival Air One contested this acquisition through legal challenges. Despite these disputes and Alitalia’s own financial difficulties, Alitalia completed the acquisition by establishing Volare S.p.A. (Volareweb.com). By May 2006, employees from the former Volare Group were integrated into Volare S.p.A. and Air Europe S.p.A.
By January 2008, Air Europe had been fully assimilated into the Alitalia Group, concentrating on long-haul leisure routes such as those to Mauritius.
In September 2008, Compagnia Aerea Italiana (CAI) proposed acquiring Alitalia to avert bankruptcy; this proposal was accepted on 12 December 2008. As part of CAI’s restructuring strategy, Air Europe was discontinued due to overlapping operations. For long-haul leisure services, the restructured Alitalia explored partnerships with carriers like Air Italy, with which it already maintained cooperative agreements.
See also
- List of defunct airlines of Italy
- Air Europe (1979–1991)
- Air Europa (1986–active)
External links
- Air Europe (Archive)
- Air Europa spa (Archive, 1999–2001)
- Air Europa spa (Archive, 1999–2001)
- Alitalia