Blue Panorama Airlines Explained

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

History

Blue Panorama Airlines

Blue Panorama is a private Italian airline operating intercontinental, international, and national charter and scheduled flights.^{[5] [7]} It was founded in Rome in 1998 by Franco Pecci,^[4] and has been an IATA member since 2002 (IATA code BV).^{[8] [9]} Since 2005, Blue Panorama Airlines' Boeing 737 fleet has operated national and international flights for the Blu-Express low-cost division.^[10]

In 2012, Alitalia declared interest in a merger with Blue Panorama, as well as with Wind Jet, another Italian airline,^{[11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16]} but decided not to proceed with the acquisitions.^{[17] [18]} In October 2012, Blue Panorama entered bankruptcy protection.^{[19] [20]} This license gave the airline the ability to restructure itself.^{[21] [22] [23]} On 25 November 2013, Blu-express started flights from Italy to Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza after Belle Air ceased operations there.^{[24] [25]}

In January 2014, Blue Panorama Airlines requested to be admitted to extraordinary administration procedure and the abandonment of the composition procedure in continuity.^[26] The management of the airline is left to the company's founder. Blue Panorama confirmed that company business and flights are fully operational.^[27]

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.^[28]

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.^[29] 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. In January 2021, it was announced that the rebrand will go ahead.^[30] As of September 2021, the airline's official website had its content changed to Luke Air operated by Blue Panorama Airlines.^[31]

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.^[32] Shortly after, it filed for bankruptcy protection.^[33] 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.^[34]

In December 2022, it has been announced that the airline will be liquidated and not resume operations.^[35]

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.

Codeshare agreements

Blue Panorama Airlines maintained Codeshare agreements with the following airlines:

• Albawings^[36]
• Cubana de Aviación^[37]

Fleet

As of November 2022, the Blue Panorama fleet no longer included any aircraft. The following types have been operated before:^[38]

Blue Panorama Airlines former fleet

Aircraft	Total	Introduced	Retired	Notes
Airbus A330-200	2	2019	2022
ATR 72-200	1	2015	2015	leased from Avanti Air
Boeing 737-300	2	2000	2000	leased from Sterling European Airlines
	2	2002	2003	leased from Ukraine International Airlines
	1	2015	2020
Boeing 737-400	16	1999	2020	some leased from Air Horizont and Hapag-Lloyd Flug
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 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]

See also

• List of defunct airlines of Italy

Notes and References

1. Web site: IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search. iata.org. 11 April 2015.
2. Web site: Elenco delle imprese titolari di licenza di trasporto aereo . enac.gov.it. 11 April 2015. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150422163413/http://www.enac.gov.it/La_Regolazione_Economica/Trasporto_Aereo/Licenze_di_Esercizio/Licenza_di_trasporto_aereo/info1084252587.html. 22 April 2015.
3. Web site: Bartłomiej Morga . Blue Panorama zbazuje w Polsce dwie maszyny. Obsłuży rejsy dla Itaki . Pasazer.com . 2022-03-21.
4. Web site: Blue Panorama Airlines. 7 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20141102200035/http://www.airlinesxl.com/europe/italy/blue_panorama_airlines.html. 2014-11-02. dead.
5. Web site: Blu Express - ch-aviation.com. ch-aviation. 7 June 2015.
6. fonte: Executive Blue web site
7. Web site: Profile on Blue Panorama Airlines - CAPA - Centre for Aviation. 7 June 2015.
8. Web site: IATA - Current Airline Members. IATA. 7 June 2015.
9. Web site: Blue Panorama Airlines. 7 June 2015.
10. Web site: Blu Express to Start Rome – Moscow Service from April 2013. UBM Information Ltd. 2015. 6 December 2012. Routesonline. 7 June 2015.
11. Web site: Alitalia plans merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet . 7 June 2015 . Reed Business Information Limited.
12. Web site: Alitalia to merge with Wind Jet and Blue Panorama Airlines. 7 June 2015.
13. Web site: Airline merger The integration of Blue Panorama, Wind Jet and Alitalia - eTurboNews.com. 7 June 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150924003255/http://www.eturbonews.com/27790/integration-blue-panorama-wind-jet-and-alitalia. 24 September 2015. dead. dmy-all.
14. Web site: Alitalia, Blue Panorama and Wind Jet plan to merge. 7 June 2015.
15. Web site: Alitalia moves ahead with a merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet. World Airline News. February 2012 . 7 June 2015.
16. Web site: Alitalia plans merger with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet . https://archive.today/20130925150959/http://www.aviatime.com/en/commercial-aviation/commercial-aviation-news/operators/968-alitalia-plans-merger-with-blue-panorama-and-wind-jet.html. dead. 25 September 2013 . 7 June 2015 .
17. Web site: Integration of Wind Jet operations with Alitalia receives board approval. 7 June 2015.
18. Web site: Avionews.com - Alitalia will integrate Wind Jet: operation approved. 7 June 2015.
19. Web site: Italy's Blue Panorama enters bankruptcy protection. 7 June 2015.
20. Web site: volaspheric. N. Tchallabes. 7 June 2015.
21. Web site: Blue Panorama Airlines enters into bankruptcy protection and reorganization. World Airline News. 30 October 2012. 7 June 2015.
22. Web site: volaspheric. N. Tchallabes. 7 June 2015.
23. Web site: Blue Panorama applies for bankruptcy protection, continues operations. ch-aviation. 7 June 2015.
24. Web site: Albania, Belle Air stops flights. Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso. 7 June 2015. Osservatorio Balcani e Caucaso.
25. Web site: Belle Air ceases operations - Business Traveller. Business Traveller. 7 June 2015.
26. Web site: Avionews.com - Blue Panorama confirms business continuity and that its flights are fully operational. 7 June 2015.
27. Web site: Blue Panorama Airlines enters administration, in negotiations with an 'international investor'. D.
28. Web site: Another added fee: Airline required passenger to pay extra to add a middle name. Star Tribune. 27 July 2018.
29. https://www.austrianaviation.net/detail/aus-blue-panorama-wird-luke-air/ austrianaviation.net - "Blue Panorama becomes Luke Air"
30. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/99018-italys-blue-panorama-proceeds-with-rebranding ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama proceeds with rebranding
31. https://www.blue-panorama.com/en blue-panorama.com
32. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/109059 ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama suspends flight operations
33. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/109211-italys-blue-panorama-applies-for-bankruptcy-protection ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama applies for bankruptcy protection
34. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/116053-italys-blue-panorama-retires-both-a330s ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama retires both A330s
35. https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/122828-italys-blue-panorama-ego-airways-to-be-liquidated ch-aviation.com - Italy's Blue Panorama, EGO Airways to be liquidated
36. Web site: Route Map. www.albawings.com. en. 2018-11-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20190422181601/https://www.albawings.com/en/route-map. 2019-04-22. dead.
37. Web site: Blue Panorama Airlines. es. Aeropuertos.Net. 11 June 2012. April 8, 2021.
38. Web site: Blue Panorama Airlines Fleet Details and History. Planespotters.net. 25 November 2022.
39. Web site: Accident Boeing 767-3G5ER EI-CXO, 16 Jul 2004.
40. Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: Web site: Air accident real voice recording and flight data. YouTube.
41. Web site: 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: Web site: John Legend - Show Me (Official Video) . YouTube.