Ernest Airlines
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Predecessor | Fly Ernest |
| Founded | 16 October 2015 |
| Defunct | 11 January 2020 |
| Fate | Ceased operations; AOC suspended |
| Headquarters | Milan , Italy |
Area served | Italy, Albania, Ukraine, Romania, Spain |
| Products | Air transport services |
Ernest Airlines (officially registered as Ernest S.p.A.) was a budget airline based in Milan, Italy. The carrier operated a fleet composed of Airbus A320 family jets, connecting more than 20 destinations, with its primary hub located at Milan Malpensa Airport. The airline commenced services in July 2016 and halted operations by January 2020.
History
Established on 16 October 2015 under the name Fly Ernest, the company obtained its AOC and Italian Air Carrier Operating License on 11 April 2017. Initially concentrating on routes between Italy and Albania, it broadened its network to include Ukraine in October 2017, subsequently incorporating flights to Romania and Spain from Italian airports. During 2017, the airline underwent rebranding from Fly Ernest to Ernest Airlines, adopting the motto Fly with style in great company.
On 29 December 2019, the Italian Civil Aviation Authority declared that Ernest’s AOC would be suspended starting 13 January 2020 due to inadequate financial assurances. Operations were completely ceased on 11 January 2020. In August 2020, Ernest revealed intentions to relaunch as a regional airline by transitioning its fleet from Airbus A320 aircraft to ATR72-600 turboprops, aiming to serve more than 70 destinations. Although this proposed revival was under judicial review by the Milan Court in September 2020, no flights were reinstated.
Destinations
Ernest Airlines connected over twenty destinations across five countries, predominantly operating out of its main hub at Milan–Malpensa Airport.
Fleet
At the time of closure, Ernest’s fleet included:[1]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passenger Capacity | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A319-100 | 1 | — | 141 | |
| Airbus A320-200 | 3 | 3 | 180 | |
| Total | 4 | 4 | ||
See also
External links
- ↑ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 17.