LONDON – In this article, we’ll explore the history of Blue Air and how it came to be one of Romania’s leading airlines before its eventual demise.
Blue Air was once a major player in the Romanian aviation market. Founded in 2004, Blue Air quickly became a popular choice for passengers flying to and from the country. However, its popularity soon began to wane and the airline has been struggling in recent years.
We also take a look at some of the factors that may have contributed to its downfall, as well as what the future holds for this once-successful airline.
Who is Blue Air?
Blue Air was a Romanian low-cost airline that operated between 2004 and 2022. The airline was headquartered in Bucharest and had its main base at Henri Coandă International Airport.
The carrier operated a fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft and offered flights to destinations throughout Europe and the Middle East.
In September 2022, Blue Air ceased operations due to financial difficulties as well as having €250 million in debt.
The History of Blue Air…
Blue Air was founded in 2004 and commenced operations in 2005 with two Boeing 737-300 aircraft, operating from its base at Bucharest’s Henri Coandă International Airport.
In 2007, the airline expanded its route network to include destinations in Italy and Spain. In 2008, the carrier carried 1.6 million passengers and became the country’s largest domestic airline.
However, despite its success, the airline ran into trouble in 2009 when it was forced to suspend operations due to financial difficulties. The airline resumed flying in 2010 but was unable to regain its previous level of success due to heavy competition with Romania’s TAROM.
Could the Demise of Blue Air Have Been Prevented?
In the early 2000s, Romania was one of the most promising emerging markets in Europe. The country had a young population, and a growing middle class, and was on the path to joining the European Union. Air travel was booming, and Blue Air was founded in 2004 to capitalize on this growth.
For a while, things went well for the airline. It quickly became one of the leading carriers in Romania, carrying over 2 million passengers by 2008. But then the global financial crisis hit, and the airline was forced to cut routes and lay off staff.
The company struggled to recover, and by 2012 it was clear that it was in serious financial trouble. The Romanian government refused to bail out the airline, and Blue Air filed for bankruptcy in 2013.
The carrier then had a two-year hiatus before restarting operations with a hefty growth plan in 2015 before garnering up too much debt and eventually ceasing again in 2022.
It’s impossible to say definitively whether or not the demise of Blue Air could have been prevented. However, there are a few factors that likely contributed to the airline’s downfall.
Firstly, Blue Air made some questionable decisions during its expansion phase, such as leasing old aircraft instead of buying new ones.
Secondly, the global financial crisis dealt a severe blow to the airline industry as a whole, from which Blue Air never fully recovered.
Finally, the Romanian government’s refusal to provide financial support likely sealed the company’s fate.
Conclusion…
In conclusion, Blue Air was a prominent airline in the country and its demise left many travelers stranded and others without jobs.
Although the reasons behind its collapse were varied, it serves as an example of how quickly fortunes can be reversed in this industry.
The story of Blue Air is one that has been filled with both successes and failures but remains an important part of Romanian aviation history nonetheless.
