Azur Air (Germany)
| Company type | GmbH |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | Düsseldorf , Germany |
Area served | Germany, Mediterranean, Caribbean |
| Products | Air transportation (leisure flights) |
| Parent | Anex Tourism Group |
Azurair GmbH, operating under the names Azur Air and Azur Air Germany, was a leisure airline based in Düsseldorf, Germany. Established in 2016 by the Turkish-Dutch tour operator Anex Tourism Group to enter the German vacation travel sector, it discontinued its services in September 2018.
Initial phase
In mid-2016, Anex Tourism Group, which was already active in the Russian and Ukrainian holiday airline markets via Azur Air and Azur Air Ukraine, founded a German branch headquartered in Düsseldorf. The company started ticket sales for the 2017 travel season while simultaneously applying for a German Air Operator's Certificate (AOC). The airline targeted an inaugural flight schedule beginning April 2017. Azur Air primarily operated out of its main hub at Düsseldorf Airport, with additional plans to serve Berlin-Schönefeld and Munich airports. Its initial route network concentrated on Mediterranean and Caribbean locations exclusively for Anex Tour customers.
The initial fleet was planned to include three Boeing 767-300ER aircraft transferred from its Russian affiliate, with intentions to later incorporate Boeing 737 and Boeing 757 models to expand route options. Although flights were originally slated to commence in spring 2017, the launch was deferred until summer of that year. The airline secured its AOC and began operations on 4 July 2017.
During the summer of 2017, Azur Air broadened its long-distance offerings by increasing service frequency to Punta Cana departing from Berlin-Schönefeld and Düsseldorf, while also adding Hannover as a new departure point.
Closure
By March 2018, Azur Air revealed plans to substitute two of its three Boeing 767-300ER aircraft—transferred to sister company Azur Air Ukraine—with two smaller Boeing 737-900 jets.
Facing significant operational challenges due to unsatisfactory financial results by July 2018, Azur Air Germany planned major adjustments. The remaining Boeing 767, leased out to Azur Air Ukraine, was scheduled for reassignment to Azur Air in Russia by October 2018. The German subsidiary intended to continue operations with only one aircraft, eliminating all long-haul flights, shutting down its Berlin base, and reducing staff by approximately 90 employees.
In September 2018, employee dissatisfaction arose when Azur Air Germany abruptly moved its last aircraft and outsourced German flight operations to leasing partners on short notice. On 26 September 2018, the airline halted all operations immediately and announced intentions to dissolve due to an unfavorable business environment. Efforts to sell the operating license did not succeed.
Destinations
As of August 2018, Azur Air Germany served the following locations:[1]
Fleet
By September 2018, the Azur Air (Germany) fleet consisted of three airplanes:
| Aircraft | Operational | Seating Capacity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-900ER | 2 | 215 | |
| Boeing 767-300ER | 1 | 334 | Currently leased to Azur Air Ukraine; scheduled for transfer to Azur Air by October 2018. |
| Total | 3 | ||
See also
External links
- ↑ anextour.de - Sommerziele 2018 Archived 28 August 2018 at the Wayback Machine retrieved 4 August 2018
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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