Azzurra Air
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 1995-12 |
| Defunct | 2004-07 |
| Headquarters | Milan , Italy |
Area served | Spain, Greece, Netherlands, Portugal, Mediterranean region |
| Owner | Air International Services (51%), Air Malta (49%) (until 2003) |
Azzurra Air functioned as both a scheduled and charter airline headquartered in Milan, Italy. Its route network encompassed destinations such as Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, Portugal, along with various other locations across the Mediterranean region.
History
Established in December 1995, Azzurra Air was created through a partnership between the Italian investment firm Air International Services, holding 51%, and Air Malta, which owned 49%. The airline commenced its flight services in December 1996. In 2003, the UK-based 7 Group purchased AIS's shares and planned to acquire Air Malta’s portion later that year.
In November 2003, Azzurra Air revealed intentions to take over the French carrier Air Littoral; however, this acquisition fell through the next month due to financial complications. The airline halted operations in March 2004 after Air Malta retracted its regional aircraft fleet because of outstanding lease payments. By July 2004, Azzurra Air declared bankruptcy while still having five Airbus A320-200 planes on order.
Services
Azzurra Air maintained one scheduled service connecting Bergamo and Rome utilizing a Boeing 737-700 aircraft; all remaining flights were conducted as charter operations.
Fleet
The airline's fleet consisted of:
| Aircraft | Quantity | Year Introduced | Year Retired | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 | 2003 | 2004 | EI-DBC, EI-DBD leased |
| Boeing 737-300 | 1 | 1999 | 2000 | 9H-ADH leased from Air Malta |
| Boeing 737-700 | 7 | 1999 | 2004 | all leased |
| BAe 146-200 | 1 | 1998 | 1999 | G-TBIC leased from Aer Lingus |
| Avro RJ70 | 5 | 1997 | 2007 | |
| Avro RJ85 | 3 | 1996 | 2005 |