Meridiana

Infobox Airline
airline = Meridiana

logo_size = 163
fleet_size = 24
destinations = 25
IATA = IG
ICAO = ISS
callsign = MERAIR
parent = Interprogramme (57.19%)
company_slogan =
founded = 1963
headquarters = Olbia, Italy
key_people =
hubs = Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport
secondary_hubs =
focus_cities =
frequent_flyer =
lounge =
alliance =
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 (Catania), Peretola Airport (Florence) and Verona Airport (Verona).cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 49 | date= 2007-04-10]

History

The airline was founded as Alisarda on March 29 1963 by the Aga Khan, Prince Karīm al-Hussaynī, 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).

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 million people, a 15.7% increase compared to 2005 figures.

Destinations

Meridiana operates services to the following scheduled destinations (as of May 2008):
*Czech Republic
**Prague (Ruzyně International Airport)
*France
**Paris (Charles de Gaulle International Airport)
*Germany
**Berlin (Berlin-Tegel International Airport)
*Hungary
**Budapest (Budapest Ferihegy International Airport) [Ends January 2, 2009]
*Italy
**Bologna (Bologna Airport)
**Cagliari (Cagliari-Elmas Airport)
**Catania (Catania-Fontanarossa Airport)
**Florence (Peretola Airport)
**Lampedusa (Lampedusa Airport)
**Milan (Linate Airport)
**Naples (Naples International Airport)
**Olbia (Olbia - Costa Smeralda Airport)
**Palermo (Palermo International Airport)
**Pantelleria (Pantelleria Airport)
**Rome (Leonardo da Vinci Airport)
**Turin (Turin International Airport)
**Venice (Venice Marco Polo Airport)
**Verona (Verona Airport)
*Kosovo
**Pristina (Pristina International Airport)
*Moldova
**Chişinău (Chişinău International Airport)
*Netherlands
**Amsterdam (Amsterdam Airport Schiphol)
*Spain
**Barcelona (Barcelona International Airport)
**Madrid (Madrid Barajas International Airport)
*United Kingdom
**London (London Gatwick Airport)

Fleet

The Meridiana fleet includes the following aircraft (as of 12 September 2008) [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=IG&al_op=1] :

*4 Airbus A319-112
*1 ATR 42-300 (which is operated by Avanti Air)
*1 ATR 72-202 (which is operated by Avanti Air)
*9 McDonnell Douglas MD-82
*9 McDonnell Douglas MD-83

As of June 2008 Meridiana's average fleet age was 16.6 years. [ [http://www.airfleets.net/ageflotte/Meridiana.htm airfleets.net] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.meridiana.it/en/ Meridiana]