Azur Air (Germany) Explained

Airline:Azur Air (Germany)
Iata:UR
Icao:ARZ
Callsign:BLUE EAGLE
Parent:Anex Tourism Group
Founded:2016
Ceased:26 September 2018
Commenced:4 July 2017
Headquarters:Düsseldorf, Germany
Fleet Size:3
Destinations:8
Website:azurair.de

Azurair GmbH,[1] trading as Azur Air or Azur Air Germany, was a German leisure airline headquartered in Düsseldorf. It was founded in 2016 by Turkish-Dutch tour operator Anex Tourism Group as part of an expansion into the German leisure market and ceased operations in September 2018.

History

Early developments

In mid 2016, Anex Tourism Group, yet engaged especially in Russian leisure market and operating airlines both in Russia (Azur Air) und Ukraine (Azur Air Ukraine), founded a German subsidiary in Düsseldorf and started distribution for 2017 travel season in late 2016. The AOC for its German carrier was requested simultaneously. First flights are scheduled to start in April 2017.[2] Beside its home base at Düsseldorf Airport, where the fleet will also be maintained, Azur Air planned to operate from Berlin-Schönefeld and Munich. At the beginning, Azur Air flew to Mediterranean destinations and the Caribbean for Anex Tour only.

At first, Azur Air was to receive three Boeing 767-300ER from sister company Azur Air from Russia. The fleet was planned to be enhanced by Boeing 737 and 757s later on while destination network would be expanded.[3] Operations were firstly planned to start in spring 2017,[4] but have been shifted towards summer 2017. Azur Air then received its AOC and commenced operations a few days later on 4 July.

During summer 2017, Azur Air announced it would increase its long-haul operations by offering more flights to Punta Cana from its existing departure airports Berlin-Schönefeld and Düsseldorf as well as starting the destination from several more German cities such as Hannover.[5]

Demise

In March 2018, Azur Air announced it would replace two of its three Boeing 767-300ER, which were handed to sister company Azur Air Ukraine, by two smaller Boeing 737-900s.[6]

In July 2018, Azur Air Germany announced major changes to its operations due to insufficient business figures. While the last remaining Boeing 767, which was then already leased out to Azur Air Ukraine, was to be transferred to Azur Air in Russia by October 2018, Azur Air Germany was to continue its operations with only one remaining aircraft without any long-haul services. In the same time, the entire station in Berlin was to be shut down, laying off 90 staff.[7] [8]

In September 2018, Azur Air Germany sparked controversy amongst its employees after the relocation of its sole remaining aircraft to other operations while the flights from Germany have been taken over by leasing contractors on short notice.[9] On 26 September 2018, it has been announced that the airline ceased all operations with immediate effect and will be dissolved due to a negative business outlook.[10] Prior to this, the owners tried to sell the airline's operational license without success.[11]

Destinations

As of August 2018, Azur Air (Germany) served the following destinations:[12]

CityCountryAirportNotes
AntalyaTurkeyAntalya Airport
AmsterdamNetherlandsSchipholFor Transavia
BangkokThailandDon Mueang International Airport
BerlinGermanyBerlin Schönefeld Airport
DüsseldorfGermanyDüsseldorf Airport
EnfidhaTunisiaEnfidha–Hammamet International Airport
HannoverGermanyHannover Airport
HurghadaEgyptHurghada International Airport
MunichGermanyMunich Airport
Palma de MallorcaSpainPalma de Mallorca Airport

Fleet

The Azur Air (Germany) fleet consisted of the following aircraft as of September 2018:[13]

Azur Air (Germany) fleet
AircraftIn servicePassengersNotes
Boeing 737-900ER2215
Boeing 767-300ER1334leased to Azur Air Ukraine; was to be transferred to Azur Air by October 2018.
Total3

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.azurair.de/impressum_azurair Azur Air Imprint
  2. http://www.rp-online.de/nrw/staedte/duesseldorf/neue-airline-azur-sitzt-in-duesseldorf-aid-1.6469062 Neue Airline Azur sitzt in Düsseldorf
  3. http://www.aerotelegraph.com/azur-air-deutschland-chartermarkt-will-mit-boeing-737-und-757-wachsen Azur Air will mit Boeing 737 und 757 wachsen
  4. http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/49876-azur-air-germany-to-launch-in-2q17-using-b767s Azur Air Germany to launch in 2Q17 using B767s
  5. http://www.cc-pr.com/news-details/ab-juli-2017-azur-air-erhoeht-frequenzen-nach-punta-cana.html cc-pr.com - Ab Juli 2017: AZUR air erhöht Frequenzen nach Punta Cana
  6. http://www.airliners.de/azur-air/43952 airliners.de - "Azur Air does not grow until further notice"
  7. http://www.airliners.de/azur-air-winter-jet/46177 airliners.de - Azur Air shrinks to one aircraft"
  8. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/69596-azur-air-germany-ends-b767-ops-to-close-berlin-base-in-4q18 ch-aviation.com - Azur Air Germany ends B767 ops, to close Berlin base in 4Q18
  9. http://www.airliners.de/verwirrung-azur-air-exklusiv/46801 airliners.de - "Confusion at Azur Air"
  10. http://www.airliners.de/deutsche-azur-air-betrieb/46973 airliners.de - "Operations ceased with immediate effect: German Azur Air to be dissolved"
  11. https://www.touristik-aktuell.de/nachrichten/verkehr/news/datum/2018/09/26/aus-fuer-azur-air-in-deutschland/ touristik-aktuell.de - Aus für Azur Air in Deutschland
  12. https://www.anextour.de/azurair anextour.de - Sommerziele 2018
  13. http://www.azurair.de/flotte azurair.de - Fleet