Blue Panorama Airlines

Blue Panorama Airlines
Luke Air
Founded	3 September 1998
Commenced operations	26 December 1998
Ceased operations	December 2022
Focus cities	Bergamo; Bologna; Katowice; Lampedusa;
Fleet size	2
Destinations	5
Headquarters	Fiumicino, Rome, Italy
Key people	Luca Patanè (President)
Net income	€2.7 Million (2018)
Employees	624 (2020)
Website	www.blue-panorama.com

Blue Panorama Airlines S.p.A. was^[4] an Italian airline headquartered in Fiumicino operating scheduled and charter flights mostly to domestic and international leisure destinations.^[5] As of late 2021, the airline was in the process to change its brand name to Luke Air^[6] also retiring their former Blu-express^[7] brand used for domestic and short-haul destinations. Additional business charter flights used to be operated under the name Executive Blue.^[8] As of late October 2021, it suspended all operations until further notice^[9] and was subsequently liquidated in late 2022.^[4]

History

Blue Panorama Airlines

Blue Panorama is a private Italian airline operating intercontinental, international, and national charter and scheduled flights.^[7]^[10] It was founded in Rome in 1998 by Franco Pecci,^[5] and has been an IATA member since 2002 (IATA code BV).^[11]^[12] Since 2005, Blue Panorama Airlines' Boeing 737 fleet has operated national and international flights for the Blu-Express low-cost division.^[13]

In 2012, Alitalia declared interest in a merger with Blue Panorama, as well as with Wind Jet, another Italian airline,^[14]^[15]^[16]^[17]^[18]^[19] but decided not to proceed with the acquisitions.^[20]^[21] In October 2012, Blue Panorama entered bankruptcy protection.^[22]^[23] This license gave the airline the ability to restructure itself.^[24]^[25]^[26] On 25 November 2013, Blu-express started flights from Italy to Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza after Belle Air ceased operations there.^[27]^[28]

In January 2014, Blue Panorama Airlines requested to be admitted to extraordinary administration procedure and the abandonment of the composition procedure in continuity.^[29] The management of the airline is left to the company's founder. Blue Panorama confirmed that company business and flights are fully operational.^[30]

In 2018 the airline came under fire as it has been the policy of Blue Panorama Airlines to charge significant fees to passengers for minor name changes.^[31]

Luke Air

In October 2019, the airline announced it would be changing its name to Luke Air by the end of 2019, revealing a new yellow-blue livery on an Airbus A330-200 which was then due to be delivered.^[32] On 7 March 2020, the first A330-200 was delivered. However, the rebranding had yet to take place. In late 2020, Blue Panorama retired their last Boeing 767-300ER.^[33] In January 2021, it was announced that the rebrand will go ahead.^[34] As of September 2021, the airline's official website had its content changed to Luke Air operated by Blue Panorama Airlines.^[6]

On 27 October 2021, the airline announced the suspension of all flights stating financial difficulties in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blue Panorama went through recurring restructuring proceedings in recent years.^[9] Shortly after, it filed for bankruptcy protection.^[35] In June 2022, it has been reported that the grounded airline retired both of their Airbus A330-200s leaving them without long-haul capable aircraft.^[36]

In December 2022, it has been announced that the airline will be liquidated and not resume operations.^[4]

Destinations

Blue Panorama operated a network of Italian domestic destinations branded as blu-express as well as long-haul leisure flights mainly around the Caribbean.^{[citation needed]}

Codeshare agreements

Blue Panorama Airlines maintained Codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

Fleet

As of November 2022, the Blue Panorama fleet no longer included any aircraft. The following types have been operated before:^[33]

Blue Panorama Airlines former fleet
Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
Airbus A330-200	2	2019	2022^[36]
ATR 72-200	1	2015	2015	leased from Avanti Air^[33]
Boeing 737-300	2	2000	2000	leased from Sterling European Airlines^[33]
	2	2002	2003	leased from Ukraine International Airlines^[33]
	1	2015	2020
Boeing 737-400	16	1999	2020	some leased from Air Horizont and Hapag-Lloyd Flug^[33]
Boeing 737-500	1	2013	2016
Boeing 737-800	10	2000	2022
Boeing 757-200	2	2005	2012
Boeing 767-300ER	10	2002	2020
Piaggio P.180 Avanti	3	2009	2014	Operated under the Executive Blue brand.

Accidents and incidents

On 16 July 2004, a Boeing 767-300ER operating as Flight 1504 experienced an uncontained engine failure on takeoff from Rome-Fiumucino Airport. The plane returned and conducted a successful emergency landing. Investigation revealed that a high-pressure fuel hose leaked approximately 700 kilograms (1,500 lb) of fuel into the engine's nacelle during taxi, which ignited upon takeoff.^[39]^[40]

On 22 September 2018, a Blue Panorama Spanish pilot, Emilio Leone, was arrested by Albanian police as his colleagues reported him for trying to fly the aircraft intoxicated.^[41]

In popular culture

A Blue Panorama Boeing 757-200 and Boeing 767-300ER appeared in John Legend's music video for "Show Me".^[42]

References

^ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ "Elenco delle imprese titolari di licenza di trasporto aereo". enac.gov.it. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
^ Bartłomiej Morga. "Blue Panorama zbazuje w Polsce dwie maszyny. Obsłuży rejsy dla Itaki". Pasazer.com. Retrieved 2022-03-21.
^ ^a ^b ^c ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama, EGO Airways to be liquidated 23 December 2022
^ ^a ^b "Blue Panorama Airlines". Archived from the original on 2014-11-02. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ ^a ^b blue-panorama.com retrieved 28 September 2021
^ ^a ^b "Blu Express - ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ fonte: Executive Blue web site^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama suspends flight operations 27 October 2021
^ "Profile on Blue Panorama Airlines - CAPA - Centre for Aviation". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ IATA. "IATA - Current Airline Members". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Blue Panorama Airlines". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ UBM Information Ltd. 2015 (6 December 2012). "Blu Express to Start Rome – Moscow Service from April 2013". Routesonline. Retrieved 7 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)^{[permanent dead link]}
^ "Alitalia plans merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet". Reed Business Information Limited. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Alitalia to merge with Wind Jet and Blue Panorama Airlines". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Airline merger The integration of Blue Panorama, Wind Jet and Alitalia - eTurboNews.com". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Alitalia, Blue Panorama and Wind Jet plan to merge". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Alitalia moves ahead with a merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet". World Airline News. February 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Alitalia plans merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet". Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Integration of Wind Jet operations with Alitalia receives board approval". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Avionews.com - Alitalia will integrate Wind Jet: operation approved". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Italy's Blue Panorama enters bankruptcy protection". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ N. Tchallabes. "volaspheric". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Blue Panorama Airlines enters into bankruptcy protection and reorganization". World Airline News. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ N. Tchallabes. "volaspheric". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Blue Panorama applies for bankruptcy protection, continues operations". ch-aviation. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. "Albania, Belle Air stops flights". Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ Business Traveller. "Belle Air ceases operations - Business Traveller". Retrieved 7 June 2015. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
^ "Avionews.com - Blue Panorama confirms business continuity and that its flights are fully operational". Retrieved 7 June 2015.
^ "Blue Panorama Airlines enters administration, in negotiations with an 'international investor'". D.
^ "Another added fee: Airline required passenger to pay extra to add a middle name". Star Tribune. 27 July 2018.
^ austrianaviation.net - "Blue Panorama becomes Luke Air" (German) 26 October 2019
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Blue Panorama Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
^ ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama proceeds with rebranding 6 January 2021
^ ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama applies for bankruptcy protection 1 November 2021
^ ^a ^b ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama retires both A330s 3 June 2022
^ "Route Map". www.albawings.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2018-11-16.
^ "Blue Panorama Airlines". Aeropuertos.Net (in Spanish). 11 June 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
^ "Accident Boeing 767-3G5ER EI-CXO, 16 Jul 2004".
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Air accident real voice recording and flight data". YouTube.
^ "Ekskluzive/ Rinas, shmanget tragjedia në avionin me 200 pasagjerë, kapet i dehur piloti i Blue Panorama - Shqiptarja". Shqiptarja.com.
^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "John Legend - Show Me (Official Video)". YouTube.

External links

Media related to Blue Panorama Airlines at Wikimedia Commons

Official website

[iata-1] "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[enac-2] "Elenco delle imprese titolari di licenza di trasporto aereo". enac.gov.it. Archived from the original on 22 April 2015. Retrieved 11 April 2015.

[3] Bartłomiej Morga. "Blue Panorama zbazuje w Polsce dwie maszyny. Obsłuży rejsy dla Itaki". Pasazer.com. Retrieved 2022-03-21.

[liquidation-4] -aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama, EGO Airways to be liquidated 23 December 2022

[Blue_Panorama_Airlines-5] "Blue Panorama Airlines". Archived from the original on 2014-11-02. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[luke-6] ue-panorama.com retrieved 28 September 2021

[Blu_Express_-_ch-aviation.com-7] "Blu Express - ch-aviation.com". ch-aviation. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[8] te: Executive Blue web site^{[permanent dead link]}

[suspension-9] -aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama suspends flight operations 27 October 2021

[10] "Profile on Blue Panorama Airlines - CAPA - Centre for Aviation". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[11] IATA. "IATA - Current Airline Members". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[12] "Blue Panorama Airlines". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[13] UBM Information Ltd. 2015 (6 December 2012). "Blu Express to Start Rome – Moscow Service from April 2013". Routesonline. Retrieved 7 June 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)^{[permanent dead link]}

[14] "Alitalia plans merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet". Reed Business Information Limited. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[15] "Alitalia to merge with Wind Jet and Blue Panorama Airlines". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[16] "Airline merger The integration of Blue Panorama, Wind Jet and Alitalia - eTurboNews.com". Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[17] "Alitalia, Blue Panorama and Wind Jet plan to merge". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[18] "Alitalia moves ahead with a merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet". World Airline News. February 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[19] "Alitalia plans merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet". Archived from the original on 25 September 2013. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[20] "Integration of Wind Jet operations with Alitalia receives board approval". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[21] "Avionews.com - Alitalia will integrate Wind Jet: operation approved". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[22] "Italy's Blue Panorama enters bankruptcy protection". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[23] N. Tchallabes. "volaspheric". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[24] "Blue Panorama Airlines enters into bankruptcy protection and reorganization". World Airline News. 30 October 2012. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[25] N. Tchallabes. "volaspheric". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[26] "Blue Panorama applies for bankruptcy protection, continues operations". ch-aviation. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[27] Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. "Albania, Belle Air stops flights". Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[28] Business Traveller. "Belle Air ceases operations - Business Traveller". Retrieved 7 June 2015. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)

[29] "Avionews.com - Blue Panorama confirms business continuity and that its flights are fully operational". Retrieved 7 June 2015.

[30] "Blue Panorama Airlines enters administration, in negotiations with an 'international investor'". D.

[31] "Another added fee: Airline required passenger to pay extra to add a middle name". Star Tribune. 27 July 2018.

[austrianaviation.net-32] ustrianaviation.net - "Blue Panorama becomes Luke Air" (German) 26 October 2019

[planespotters-33] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Blue Panorama Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. Retrieved 25 November 2022.

[34] -aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama proceeds with rebranding 6 January 2021

[35] -aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama applies for bankruptcy protection 1 November 2021

[a330retirement-36] -aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama retires both A330s 3 June 2022

[37] "Route Map". www.albawings.com. Archived from the original on 2019-04-22. Retrieved 2018-11-16.

[Aeropuertos.net-38] "Blue Panorama Airlines". Aeropuertos.Net (in Spanish). 11 June 2012. Retrieved April 8, 2021.

[39] "Accident Boeing 767-3G5ER EI-CXO, 16 Jul 2004".

[40] Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Air accident real voice recording and flight data". YouTube.

[41] "Ekskluzive/ Rinas, shmanget tragjedia në avionin me 200 pasagjerë, kapet i dehur piloti i Blue Panorama - Shqiptarja". Shqiptarja.com.

[42] Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "John Legend - Show Me (Official Video)". YouTube.

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Blue Panorama Airlines

History