View source for Blue Air

{{Short description|Romanian low-cost airline}}
{{distinguish|Air Bleu|Airblue}}
{{for|the air purifier brand|Unilever}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Blue Air
| logo = Blue-Air logo-01.svg
| logo_size = 200
| IATA = 0B
| ICAO = BLA
| callsign = BLUE AIR
| founded = 2004
| commenced = 2004
| ceased = {{nowrap|6 September 2022 (suspension)<ref name="ch-aviation.com"/><ref name="travelweekly"/><ref name="aerotelegraph.com"/><br>21 March 2023 (insolvency)<ref name=romania-insider/>}}
| aoc = RO-055<ref name="aoc">{{cite web |title=OPERATORI AERIENI ROMÂNI CERTIFICAŢI/AUTORIZAŢI ROMANIAN CERTIFIED/AUTHORIZED AIR OPERATORS 27.05.2022 |url=https://www.caa.ro/uploads/pages/RegOPS.pdf |website=AUTORITATEA AERONAUTICĂ CIVILĂ ROMÂNĂ |access-date=12 February 2023 |language=ro |date=27 May 2022}}</ref>
| hubs = {{nowrap|[[Henri Coandă International Airport]]}}
| focus_cities = 
| bases = <div>
*[[Henri Coandă International Airport]]</div>
| headquarters = [[Bucharest]], [[Romania]]||
| key_people = Cristian Rada, [[CEO]]
| frequent_flyer = My Blue
| lounge = 
| alliance = 
| fleet_size = 2{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
| destinations = 75<ref name="aerotelegraph.com"/><ref name="blueairofficial"/>
| revenue = {{decrease}} €108 million (2020)
| net_income = {{decrease}} €81.1 million (2020)
| website = [https://www.flyblueair.com/ flyblueair.com]
| parent = State-owned (75 %)<ref name=nationalized/>
| num_employees = 806 (2020)
| image = 
}}

'''Blue Air''' was<ref name=romania-insider/> a [[Romania]]n [[Low-cost carrier|low-cost airline]] headquartered in [[Bucharest]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.blueairweb.com/contact/|title=Contact {{!}} Blue Air|last=Concept|first=Openmind|website=www.blueairweb.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-21}}</ref> with its hub at [[Henri Coandă International Airport]].<ref>[https://tickets.pl/avia/airline/0B tickets.pl - Blue Air flies to Bucharest airport] 21 March 2017</ref> It was the largest Romanian airline by scheduled passengers flown.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zf.ro/zf-24/compania-aeriana-romaneasca-blue-air-a-depasit-pragul-de-5-milioane-de-pasageri-16940460|title=Compania aeriană românească Blue Air a depăşit pragul de 5 milioane de pasageri {{!}} Ziarul Financiar|website=www.zf.ro|language=en|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref> In 2017, Blue Air carried over 5 million passengers, a 40% increase over the 3.6 million passengers flown the previous year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aeronews.ro/peste-5-milioane-de-pasageri-au-ales-blue-air-in-2017/|title=Peste 5 milioane de pasageri au ales Blue Air in 2017|last=Stefan|first=Teodor|date=21 January 2018|website=Aeronews.ro|language=ro|access-date=21 January 2018}}</ref> As of September 2022, Blue Air served 75 scheduled destinations in 21 countries.<ref name="aerotelegraph.com"/><ref name="blueairofficial"/>

Blue Air was forced to suspend all operations on 6 September 2022.<ref name="ch-aviation.com"/><ref name="travelweekly"/><ref name="status"/> In November 2022, its license was suspended,<ref name=airliners251122/> and the now-dormant airline was nationalized in December 2022.<ref name=nationalized/> In March 2023, Blue Air subsequently filed for [[insolvency]].<ref name=romania-insider/>

==History==
===Foundation and early years===
[[File:YR-BAA_(23111340095)_(2).jpg|thumb|A Blue Air [[Boeing 737-300]] in 2010 showing an older livery]]

Founded by Nelu Iordache,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.capital.ro/nelu-iordache-isi-vrea-blue-air-inapoi.html|title=Nelu Iordache își vrea Blue Air înapoi|date=25 May 2016|website=Capital.ro}}</ref> Blue Air started operating in December 2004. Blue Air initially operated domestic and international flights, although domestic services were soon discontinued due to low sales and competition from [[TAROM]], as well as [[Căile Ferate Române]], the Romanian rail company.  Blue Air resumed domestic operations in 2015, starting with [[Bucharest]] to [[Iași]] flights.<ref>[https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/251073/blue-air-adds-new-iasi-routes-in-w15/ routesonline.com - Blue Air Adds New Iasi Routes in W15] 21 September 2015</ref>

On 12 April 2013, Blue Air's management announced that the airline was for sale.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mediafax.ro/economic/compania-aeriana-blue-air-scoasa-la-vanzare-10735346|title=Compania aeriană Blue Air, scoasă la vânzare|language=ro}}</ref> On 17 May 2013, the company was purchased by four Romanian shareholders, and BlueAir Transport Aerian SA's flight operations were transferred to Blue Air – Airline Management Solution SRL, a company that bailed the business out with EUR 30 million.<ref name=":4" /> In 2015, Blue Air reported a net profit of EUR 6 million, contrasting to the company's loss of EUR 400,000 in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.romania-insider.com/romanian-low-cost-airline-posts-record-turnover|title=Romanian low-cost airline posts record turnover|website=Romania Insider|date=3 June 2016 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-12}}</ref>

The airline transported 1.5 million passengers in 2014, an increase from the 1.35 million passengers in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsair.ro/blue-air-estimeaza-ca-a-transportat-15-milioane-de-pasageri-in-2014.html|title=Blue Air Estimează Că A Transportat 1,5 Milioane de Pasageri În 2014 |date=6 January 2015|language=ro|access-date=9 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160221101203/http://www.newsair.ro/blue-air-estimeaza-ca-a-transportat-15-milioane-de-pasageri-in-2014.html|archive-date=21 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2015, the airline transported for the first time more than 2 million passengers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://t2t.ro/pasageri-blue-air-2015/|title=Peste 2 milioane de pasageri transportati de Blue Air in 2015|date=23 December 2015|website=T2T.ro|language=ro-RO|access-date=2015-12-27}}</ref> With a total of 25 new routes announced for 2016, the airline forecasts carrying close to three million passengers in 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dcnews.ro/blue-air-sufla-in-ceafa-tarom_510378.html|title=Blue Air "suflă" în ceafa TAROM|last=dcnews|date=8 July 2016|access-date=2017-03-21|language=ro}}</ref>

Blue Air became a full member of the [[International Air Transport Association]] (IATA) on 19 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://airlines.iata.org/agenda/blue-air-joins-iata|title=Blue Air joins IATA – Airlines International Blue Air joins IATA|date=4 February 2016|website=IATA.org official|access-date=21 March 2017}}</ref> Furthermore, Blue Air received the [[IATA Operational Safety Audit]] certification in December 2015,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://t2t.ro/blue-air-a-primit-certificarea-iata-operational-safety-audit-iosa/|title=Blue Air a primit certificarea IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA)|date=3 December 2015|website=T2T.ro|language=ro}}</ref>  being a member of the IATA Clearing House.<ref>[https://www.iata.org/services/finance/clearinghouse/Documents/ich-members-list.pdf IATA Clearing House Members List]</ref>

In March 2017, Blue Air started a base in [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]], operating to 8 destinations across Europe. Blue Air also created a 'welcome to Liverpool' Livery for their [[Boeing 737-800]] Aircraft (YR-BMH).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jetphotos.com/photo/8554189|title=YR-BMH|date=5 April 2017|website=www.jetphotos.com|language=en}}</ref> This aircraft included slogans such as 'Cool city, Warm welcome' and 'Liverpool Music city' to help use the aircraft to promote its new base in Liverpool, England, by flying this logo jet across Europe. This aircraft is also the only full special livery aircraft within the Blue Air fleet.<ref>[https://airlinegeeks.com/2017/03/04/blue-air-boosts-liverpool-partnership-with-special-paint-scheme/ airlinegeeks.com - Blue Air Boosts Liverpool Partnership With Special Paint Scheme] 4 March 2017</ref>

Since November 2017, with the entry into force of the Territorial Continuity in Sardinia, Blue Air connects the Alghero airport with the Rome-Fiumicino Airport, a route operated in the past by Alitalia. The airline, following a conference held at Alghero Airport in early November, announced that the Riviera del Corallo became his fourth international base of operations, after those in Torino, Liverpool and Larnaca. In January 2018, Blue Air planned to launch a new subsidiary in the Czech Republic, known as Blue Air Moravia;<ref>[https://worldairlinenews.com/2018/01/01/blue-air-to-fly-paris-cdg-turin-establishes-blue-air-moravia-in-brno/ Blue Air Moravia]</ref> however, this never took place.

===Developments since 2018===
In 2018 the legal status of the company was changed, from a [[limited liability company]] to a [[joint-stock company]]; it also changed its legal name to Blue Air Aviation SA.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://business-review.eu/news/romanias-largest-airline-blue-air-becomes-joint-venture-changes-name-to-blue-air-aviation-180031|title=Romania's largest airline Blue Air becomes joint venture, changes name to Blue Air Aviation|date=9 August 2018|website=[[Business Review]]}}</ref> In that same year (2018), Civil Aviation Group (a joint venture between Moldovan investors and Blue Air) won the privatization process of Moldova's airline, [[Air Moldova]], for the sum of 50 millions [[Moldovan leu|MDL]] (2.56 million [[Euro|EUR]]). Civil Aviation Group took over Air Moldova's debts, worth 1.2 billion Moldovan lei (61 million euro).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.agerpres.ro/english/2018/10/02/civil-aviation-group-takes-over-air-moldova-for-50-mln-moldovan-lei--185979|title=Civil Aviation Group takes over Air Moldova for 50 mln Moldovan lei|date=2 October 2018|website=[[Agerpres]]|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-date=3 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181003130008/https://www.agerpres.ro/english/2018/10/02/civil-aviation-group-takes-over-air-moldova-for-50-mln-moldovan-lei--185979|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 6 July 2020, Blue Air filed for [[bankruptcy protection]] after a steep decrease in revenue which was only partially balanced by a 65 Million Euro loan received as state aid from the Romanian government.<ref>[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/blue-air-rettet-sich-in-glaeubigerschutz aerotelegraph.com] (German) 7 July 2020</ref>

In November 2020, the airline announced the retirement of their [[Boeing 737-300]]s and [[Boeing 737-500|-500s]] and replace them with additional leased [[Boeing 737-800]] aircraft.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://boardingpass.ro/compania-blue-air-aduce-in-flota-inca-un-boeing-737-800ng/|title=Blue Air adds one more Boeing 737-800ng to its fleet|date=6 November 2020|publisher=boardingpass.ro}}</ref>

====Suspension of operations====
On 6 September 2022, it was announced that Blue Air was forced to suspend all operations for at least six days, following the seizure of the airline's accounts by the Romanian authorities.<ref name="ch-aviation.com">[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/119113-romanias-blue-air-suspends-operations-blames-the-state ch-aviation.com - Romania's Blue Air suspends operations, blames the state] 6 September 2022</ref><ref name="travelweekly">[https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/air/romanian-carrier-blue-air-grounded-by-government travelweekly.co.uk - Romanian carrier Blue Air grounded by government] 6 September 2022</ref> Prior to this event there had already been arguments between the airline and the state after a high-ranking official advised against buying tickets from the airline.<ref name="ch-aviation.com"/><ref name="aerotelegraph.com">[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/blue-air-muss-alle-fluege-einstellen aerotelegraph.com] (German) 6 September 2022</ref>

On 7 September, the assets were released by the government, with Blue Air planning to resume reduced operations with just five aircraft in the near future.<ref>[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/blue-air-plant-neustart-mit-fuenf-flugzeugen aerotelegraph.com] (German) 9 September 2022</ref> However, shortly afterwards, Blue Air announced the suspension of all flights until at least 10 October 2022, as the airline was currently not able to afford fuel and other services.<ref>[https://www.aerotelegraph.com/blue-air-verschiebt-neustart-auf-oktober aerotelegraph.com - Blue Air delays restart to October] (German) 12 September 2022</ref> On 30 September 2022, the airline removed its entire route network from sale.<ref>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/119979-romanias-blue-air-removes-all-flights-from-sale ch-aviation.com - Romania's Blue Air removes all flights from sale] 30 September 2022</ref> Shortly afterwards, all five of the airline's [[Boeing 737 MAX 8]] aircraft were reallocated to [[LOT Polish Airlines]] by their lessor.<ref name=max8>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/120091-polands-lot-adds-ex-blue-air-b737-8s-as-interim-solution ch-aviation.com - Poland's LOT adds ex-Blue Air B737-8s as interim solution] 6 October 2022</ref> As of October 2022, Blue Air did not plan to resume operations earlier than late 2022.<ref name="status">[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/120419-romanias-blue-air-to-remain-dormant-through-late-4q22-ceo ch-aviation.com - Romania's Blue Air to remain dormant through late 4Q22 - CEO] 14 October 2022</ref>

In November 2022 it was announced that Blue Air would be nationalized, with the Romanian state taking over 75 percent of shares, as the currently dormant airline was unable to pay back a state loan.<ref>[https://www.airliners.de/blue-air-verstaatlicht/66953 airliners.de] (German) 21 November 2022</ref> During the same time, the airline's operational license was suspended, but not revoked.<ref name=airliners251122>[https://www.airliners.de/betriebsgenehmigung-blue-air-ruht/67026 airliners.de] (German) 25 November 2022</ref>

In December 2022, Blue Air was indeed nationalized, with the Romanian state contemplating an onward sale of its confiscated 75 percent share to an investor.<ref name=nationalized>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/122855-bucharest-nationalises-blue-air-mulls-sale-to-us-investor ch-aviation.com - Bucharest nationalises Blue Air, mulls sale to US investor] 27 December 2022</ref> Shortly after, it was reported that the dormant airline had accumulated up to €250 million in debt.<ref>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/123730-romanias-blue-air-loses-us-investor-debts-may-top-250mn ch-aviation.com - Romania's Blue Air loses US investor, debts may top €250mn] 23 January 2023</ref>

On 21 March 2023, Blue Air filed for [[insolvency]].<ref name=romania-insider>[https://www.romania-insider.com/romania-blue-air-insolvency-march-2023 romania-insider.com - Romanian airline Blue Air enters insolvency] 22 March 2023</ref>

==Business trends==
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"
|- style="text-align:center;"
! style="background: #082567;" | 
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2005</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2006</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2007</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2008</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2009</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2010</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2011</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2012</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2013</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2014</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2015</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2016</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2017</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2018</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2019</span>
! style="background: #082567;" | <span style="color:white;">2020</span>
|-
| Turnover ([[Euro|€]]m)
| align="center" |24
| align="center" |50
| align="center" |95
| align="center" |124
| align="center" |140
| align="center" |150
| align="center" |149
| align="center" |137
| align="center" |135
| align="center" |148
| align="center" |199
| align="center" |291
| align="center" |412
| align="center" |495
! align="center" |458
! align="center" |108
|-
| Net profit (€m)
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | -
| align="center" | {{color|red|&minus;0.3}}
| align="center" | 5.9
| align="center" | {{color|red|&minus;26}}
| align="center" | {{color|red|&minus;32}}
| align="center" | {{color|red|&minus;31}}
! align="center" | 15
! align="center" | {{color|red|&minus;81}}
|-
|Number of passengers (m)
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | -
|align="center" | 1.1
|align="center" | 1.72
|align="center" | 1.5
|align="center" | 1.5
|align="center" | 1.5
|align="center" | 1.37
|align="center" | 1.6
|align="center" | 2.05
|align="center" | 3.6
|align="center" | 5.1
|align="center" | 5.2
!align="center" | -
!align="center" | 1.6
|-
| Number of aircraft (at year end)
| align="center" |3
| align="center" |4
| align="center" |5
| align="center" |6
| align="center" |10
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |8
| align="center" |11
| align="center" |15
| align="center" |24
| align="center" |29
| align="center" |25
! align="center" |23
! align="center" |14
|-
| Number of employees
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |-
| align="center" |437
| align="center" |504
| align="center" |585
| align="center" |921
| align="center" |1,240
| align="center" |1,121
! align="center" |1,145
! align="center" |806

|-
| <small>''Notes/sources''</small>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014">{{Cite web |url=http://www.economica.net/10-ani-de-blue-air-compania-inchide-anul-2014-pe-profit-si-cu-afaceri-de-150-de-milioane-de-euro_93003.html |title=10 ani de Blue Air. Compania închide anul 2014 pe profit şi cu afaceri de 150 de milioane de euro |website=Economica.net |date=10 December 2014 |access-date=27 January 2017 |language=ro }}</ref>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.economica.net/avioane_71694.html|title=O companie aeriană din România e în top cinci mondial al operatorilor low-cost cu cele mai vechi avioane|date=21 January 2014}}</ref>
| align="center" |<ref name="2005–2014"/><ref name=Aeronews1>[http://aeronews.ro/aproape-3-6-milioane-pasageri-au-ales-blue-air-in-2016/ Aproape 3.6 milioane pasageri au ales Blue Air in 2016 ], ''Aeronews.ro'', Retrieved on 27 January 2017</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.romanian-companies.eu/blue-air-aviation-sa-31525574/|title=Blue Air Aviation SA|website=Romanian Companies|access-date=3 January 2020}}</ref>
| align="center" |<ref name=Aeronews1/><ref name=":4">{{cite web|url=http://www.economica.net/afacerile-blue-air-au-depasit-pentru-prima-data-pragul-de-200-de-milioane-de-euro-in-2015_120586.html|title=Afacerile Blue Air au depăşit pentru prima dată pragul de 200 de milioane de euro în 2015|date=2 June 2016}}</ref><ref name=":1" />
| align="center" |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.profit.ro/povesti-cu-profit/auto-transporturi/blue-air-ataca-in-instanta-amenda-incasata-de-la-protectia-consumatorului-si-vorbeste-de-propuneri-mai-mult-sau-mai-putin-voalate-venite-din-partea-presedintelui-anpc-20779565 | title=Blue Air atacă ANPC după amendă cu acuzații șoc - Nu suntem dispuși să dăm nici ceasuri, nici procente din sumă! }}</ref>
| align="center" |<ref name=":1" /><ref name=Aeronews1/>
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|<ref name=":1" />
|}

==Operations==
===Bases===
Blue Air has used [[Bucharest]] as its primary hub for most of its history. Initially, the airline's hub was located at the [[Aurel Vlaicu International Airport]] (Băneasa), until the airport became overcrowded and was increasingly surrounded by urban development. This fact led to the airport's closure for commercial airlines in 2012- the airport was not closed officially, but the operating taxes for airlines were suddenly increased until no airline could afford them.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zf.ro/companii/inchiderea-aeroportului-baneasa-dezvaluie-o-comoara-imobiliara-de-un-miliard-de-euro-9369706|title=Închiderea aeroportului Băneasa dezvăluie o comoară imobiliară de un miliard de euro|date=5 March 2012|publisher=Ziarul Financiar|language=ro}}</ref> As a result, all airlines moved their operations to Bucharest's largest airport, [[Henri Coandă International Airport]]. Blue Air then used this airport as its primary hub until its demise.

As of February 2022, the other bases of Blue Air were located in Romania and Italy:
*[[Bacău]] - [[Bacău International Airport]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/bcm/arrivals|title = Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map}}</ref> 
*[[Cluj]] - [[Cluj International Airport]]<ref>[https://boardingpass.ro/blue-air-anunta-12-rute-noi-care-vor-fi-operate-din-cluj-napoca-in-2021/?source=aa boardingpass.ro - RUTE AERIENEBlue Air anunță 12 rute noi care vor fi operate din Cluj Napoca în 2021] (Romanian) 21 October 2020</ref>
*[[Turin]] - [[Turin Airport]]<ref>[https://seenews.com/news/romanias-blue-air-to-station-second-aircraft-at-turin-base-in-sept-709588 seenews.com - Romania's Blue Air to station second aircraft at Turin base in Sept] 11 August 2020</ref>

Blue Air also used to have additional base operations at other Romanian and European airports. A base was maintained at [[Liverpool John Lennon Airport]] between 2017<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.liverpoolairport.com/news/2016/10/blue-air/ |title=LJLA to become Blue Air's latest European base bringing more flights, more international visitors and more jobs at LJLA |publisher=Liverpool Airport }}</ref><ref>[https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/romania-aviation-part-3-blue-air-opens-liverpool-base-and-creates-new-markets-tarom-feels-the-heat-314088 centreforaviation.com - Romania aviation Part 3: Blue Air opens Liverpool base and creates new markets; TAROM feels the heat] 21 November 2016</ref> and February 2019. They also had a base at [[Alghero–Fertilia Airport]] which was inaugurated in 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mediafax.ro/economic/compania-aeriana-romaneasca-blue-air-a-depasit-pragul-de-5-milioane-de-pasageri-16941623|title = Compania aeriană românească Blue Air a depăşit pragul de 5 milioane de pasageri}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/aho/arrivals|title = Live Flight Tracker - Real-Time Flight Tracker Map}}</ref> and closed in April 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.castedduonline.it/continuita-territoriale-roma-milano/|title = Cagliari, nuova continuità territoriale al via: In vendita i biglietti per Roma e Milano|date = 28 January 2019}}</ref> The base at [[Mihail Kogălniceanu International Airport]], which was maintained since April 2017<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.zf.ro/zf-24/compania-aeriana-romaneasca-blue-air-a-depasit-pragul-de-5-milioane-de-pasageri-16940460|title=Compania aeriană românească Blue Air a depăşit pragul de 5 milioane de pasageri|publisher=Ziarul Financiar|language=ro|access-date=2018-01-24}}</ref> closed in 2019 as well. The base at [[Larnaca International Airport]] closed in September 2020,<ref>[https://boardingpass.ro/oficial-blue-air-inchide-in-15-septembrie-2020-baza-din-larnaca/  boardingpass.ro - RUTE AERIENEOficial: Blue Air închide în 15 septembrie 2020 baza din Larnaca] (Romanian) 3 September 2020</ref> the one at [[Iași International Airport]] shut down in November 2020.<ref>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/97391-romanias-blue-air-axes-iasi-base-to-relocate-euro-ops ch-aviation.com - Romania's Blue Air axes Iasi base; to relocate Euro ops] 17 November 2020</ref> However, prior to the shutdown of operations, Iași was planned to be reestablished as an operational base from 2023, inaugurating 14 routes.<ref>[https://boardingpass.ro/blue-air-planifica-14-rute-noi-din-iasi-pentru-vara-anului-2023/ boardingpass.ro - Blue Air planifică 14 rute noi din Iași pentru vara anului 2023] (Romanian) 12 August 2022</ref>

===Destinations===
As of September 2022, prior to the suspension of operations, Blue Air offered flights to 75 scheduled destinations in 21 countries.<ref name="aerotelegraph.com"/><ref name="blueairofficial">[https://www.flyblueair.com/en/gb/map/ flyblueair.com - Map] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420011640/https://www.flyblueair.com/en/gb/map/ |date=2021-04-20 }} retrieved 6 September 2022</ref> The airline also operated ad-hoc and seasonal charters on behalf of other companies.<ref>[https://www.flyblueair.com/de/de/charters/ flyblueair.com - Charters] retrieved 1 October 2022</ref>

===Codeshare agreements===
Blue Air maintained [[codeshare agreement]]s with the following airlines:
*[[Charlie Airlines|Cyprus Airways]]<ref>[https://newsroom.aviator.aero/cyprus-airways-and-blue-air-launch-code-share-partnership/ newsroom.aviator.aero - Cyprus Airways and Blue Air Launch code-share partnership] 28 November 2018</ref>

== Fleet ==
[[File:Blue_Air,_Boeing_737-5L9,_YR-BAG_-_FCO_(24583000364).jpg|thumb|Blue Air [[Boeing 737 Classic#737-500|Boeing 737-500]]]]
[[File:Boeing_737-8BK,_Blue_Air_JP6875833.jpg|thumb|A Blue Air [[Boeing 737 Next Generation#737-800|Boeing 737-800]] wearing an older livery version]]

===Final fleet===
As of January 2023, after significantly downsizing its numbers, the Blue Air fleet consisted of the following aircraft prior to ceasing operations:<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.flyblueair.com/en/gb/fleet/|title=Blue Air – Fleet|website=www.blueairweb.com|language=en|access-date=8 October 2022|archive-date=2 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202162133/https://www.flyblueair.com/en/gb/fleet/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.2em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Blue Air fleet
|-
!style="width:125px;" |Aircraft 
!Number
!Orders
!Passengers
!Notes
|-
|rowspan="1"|[[Boeing 737-500]]
|rowspan="1"|2
|rowspan="1"|&mdash;
|120
|rowspan="1"|both currently stored{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|-
!Total
!2
!&mdash;
!colspan="2"|
|}

=== Historical fleet ===
Since its inauguration, Blue Air formerly also operated the following types of aircraft:{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
<div class="center">
{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.2em auto; text-align:center"
!Aircraft
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-300]]{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|2004
|2021
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-400]]{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|2006
|2020
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-700]]
|2015
|2022
|Removed from service after the suspension of operations.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|-
|[[Boeing 737 Classic|Boeing 737-800]]
|2008
|2022
|Removed from service after the suspension of operations.{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|-
|[[Boeing 737 MAX 8]]
|2021
|2022
|Returned to lessor after the suspension of operations.<ref name=max8/>
|-
|[[Saab 340]]
|2009
|2013
|Operated by [[Direct Aero Services]]{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|-
|[[Saab 2000]]
|2009
|2009
|Leased from [[Carpatair]]{{Cn|date=October 2024}}
|}
</div>

== See also ==

*[[Aviation in Romania]]
*[[Transport in Romania]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category-inline}}
* {{Official website}}

{{Portal bar|Romania|Companies|Aviation}}
{{Navboxes
|list =
{{Airlines of Romania}}
{{IATA members|europe}}
{{European Low Fares Airline Association}}
}}

[[Category:Defunct airlines of Romania]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 2004]]
[[Category:Airlines disestablished in 2023]]
[[Category:European Low Fares Airline Association]]
[[Category:Defunct low-cost airlines]]
[[Category:Defunct European low-cost airlines]]
[[Category:Companies based in Bucharest]]
[[Category:Romanian brands]]
[[Category:Romanian companies established in 2004]]