Meridiana

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Meridiana
IATA
IG		 ICAO
ISS		 Callsign
MERAIR
Founded 1963
Hubs Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport
Fleet size 22
Destinations
Headquarters Olbia, Italy
Key people
Website: http://www.meridiana.it/

Meridiana is an airline based in Olbia, Italy. It is Italy's third airline operating domestic and European services. Its main base is Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport, with hubs at Catania-Fontanarossa Airport, Peretola Airport, Florence and Verona Airport.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

The airline was founded as Alisarda on March 29, 1963 by the Aga Khan as an air-taxi and charter operator to promote tourism to Sardinia. Scheduled services began in 1964 from Olbia. In 1989, 35% of new stock was released to new shareholders to strengthen the company and the name Meridiana was adopted on 3 May 1991. The first international services were operated later in 1991 to Barcelona, Paris, London and Frankfurt. A 29.95% stake in Eurofly was acquired in December 2006. Meridiana is owned by Interprogramme (57.19%), SA AgaKhan (17.59%), employees (16.08%), Airfin (in liquidation) (4.51%), Fondazione Cariplo (3.39%) and other shareholders (1.24%). It has 1,358 employees (at March 2007).[1]

During 2004, Meridiana replaced four BAe 146-200s with four leased Airbus A319-100s, and has plans for a fifth. In January 2004 it was reported that Meridiana was planning to replace its McDonnell Douglas MD-82 fleet with 17 Airbus A320-200s.

In 2006 it transported over 4,6 millions pax per year, a 15,7% increase compared to 2005 figures.

[edit] Destinations

Meridiana operates services to the following scheduled destinations (as of May 2008):

Meridiana Airbus A319 Madrid-Barajas
Meridiana Airbus A319 Madrid-Barajas

[edit] Fleet

Meridiana MD-82
Meridiana MD-82

The Meridiana fleet includes the following aircraft (at February 2008):

Meridiana's average fleet age was 16.2 years in January 2008 [1].

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-04-10, p. 49. 

[edit] External links

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Airlines of Italy