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Meridiana Fly S.p.A., operating as Meridiana (formerly named Meridiana S.p.A.), was a privately owned Italian airline headquartered in Olbia with its main base at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport. It operated scheduled and charter flights to domestic, European and intercontinental destinations from several Italian bases. Some of its operations were carried out by the old Air Italy under the Meridiana brand. It was owned by Qatar Airways through AQA Holding (49%) and Alisarda S.p.A. (51%), who rebranded the airline as the new Air Italy effective 1 March 2018.

Key Information

History

[edit]

Early years

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The company was set up with the name of Alisarda on 29 March 1963 by Aga Khan Prince Karīm al-Hussaynī with the aim of promoting tourism in Sardinia. Scheduled flights commenced in 1964.

On 3 May 1991 in an Extraordinary Shareholders Meeting, the name of the company was changed to Meridiana S.p.A., and a new logo was created. These changes were made to reflect the expansion of the company's operations to Europe.

Merger with Eurofly to create Meridiana fly

[edit]
An Airbus A330-200 operated by Eurofly

In December 2006, Meridiana acquired the majority package of the airline company Eurofly, with a 29,95% share. During the year, further important investments were made aiming to develop Meridiana, which also closed 2006 with the historical record of 4,6 million passengers carried with an approximate 15% increase compared to 2005.

At the end of February 2010, Meridiana fly, the second-largest carrier in Italy, was created by the merger of Eurofly, a company specialized in long-haul charter flights to holiday destinations, and Meridiana, a scheduled operator of national and European flights, with the primary objective of connecting the main Italian airports with Sardinia and Sicily.

Meridiana's acquisition of Air Italy

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In October 2011, Meridiana fly completely acquired Air Italy, an Italian charter airline.

On 16 January 2013, the Board of Directors of Meridiana S.p.A. acknowledged the agreement for the purchase by Meridiana S.p.A. of all the Meridiana fly ordinary shares held by the former shareholders of Air Italy Holding S.r.l. Today the group is run by Meridiana S.p.A. Holding, which controls 89% of Meridiana fly including 100% of Air Italy; the remaining part is quoted to the Milan Stock Exchange but a tender offer was recently[when?] launched to delist the company.

Redevelopment into the new Meridiana

[edit]
An Airbus A319-100 previously operated by Meridiana

In April 2013, when the Air Italy merger was completed, Meridiana Fly returned to its former, shorter name, Meridiana.[1]

On 16 May, it launched the new frequent-flyer program Meridiana Club in partnership with Avios.

In mid-2013, Meridiana offered national and international scheduled flights from the main Italian airports to Sardinia (Olbia, Alghero, and Cagliari), Sicily and Naples as well as holiday destinations such as the Canary Islands, Greece, and the Red Sea. It also serviced the long-haul destinations of the Maldives, Mauritius, Kenya, Zanzibar, Santo Domingo, and Brazil mainly from Milan Malpensa and/or Rome Fiumicino.

In 2014, the airline continued to reposition its brand by launching international flights to Moscow Domodedovo, London Gatwick, Kyiv, Tel Aviv and Nice from Naples and to Brussels, Geneva, London Gatwick, Tel Aviv, Nice, Hamburg, Paris CDG, Moscow Domodedovo and Kyiv from Olbia; reconfirming its leadership in Sardinia and its focus on Naples, Catania, Milan Linate and Verona airport for domestic Italian flights.

Since 18 November 2014 Meridiana Club frequent flyers have been able to earn Avios points on British Airways and from 23 March 2015 on Iberia.

In December 2014, Meridiana retired its last Airbus aircraft, two A320-200s, to pursue the aim of operating an all Boeing fleet together with Air Italy.[2]

Meridiana ownership under AQA Holding

[edit]

On 2 September 2017 it was announced that Qatar Airways had bought 49% of AQA Holding, the new shareholder of Meridiana.[3] On 7 November 2017 it was announced that Qatar Airways would merge Air Italy with the current Meridiana subsidiary under the Meridiana AOC.[4]

In December 2017, Meridiana announced a restructuring of its route network. While all routes from Milan-Linate except the services to its base in Olbia will be terminated, Meridiana will start year-round long-haul services from Milan-Malpensa to New York City and Miami using Airbus A330-200 aircraft inherited from Qatar Airways.[5] Meridiana further announced that it would become the first Italian airline to take delivery of Boeing 737 MAX 8s. It was also reported that new full-flat business class seats and in-flight Wi-fi would be installed on the new Airbus A330s to be received from Qatar Airways.[6]

In February 2018, Meridiana rebranded as Air Italy and announced a plan to expand its fleet and destinations to become Italy's flagship carrier.[7] Air Italy ceased operations in early 2020.

Corporate affairs

[edit]

Head Offices

[edit]
Meridiana Headquarters

Meridiana's head offices are located at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Olbia, Italy.

AQA Holding

[edit]

AQA Holding is the parent company of Meridiana, which was founded on 2 September 2017 after Qatar Airways purchased a 49% stake in Meridiana, with Alisarda keeping the 51% stake that it previously owned, which subsequently created the new holding company.

Subsidiaries

[edit]

Meridiana currently has three subsidiaries. One subsidiary Meridian owns is Meridiana Maintenance S.p.A. (operated as Meridiana Maintenance). The airline maintenance company was founded after Meridiana merged with eurofly (another Italian airline). Their hangar is located at Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport in Olbia, Italy next to the Meridiana Head Offices. Wokita S.i.r (operated as Wokita) is another subsidiary Meridiana owns. Wokita is a tour operator that offers a wide and extensive range of tourism products such as package tours, flights, hotels, and resorts in seaside areas, yachting, and activity holidays since 2006. Since April 2013 Meridiana owns Air Italy (2005–2018) and operates on behalf of Meridiana.

Destinations

[edit]

Codeshare agreements

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Meridiana codeshared with the following airlines:[8]

Fleet

[edit]
Meridiana Boeing 737-700
Meridiana Boeing 737-800
Meridiana Boeing 767-300ER
Former Meridiana McDonnell Douglas DC-9-50

Current fleet

[edit]

At the time of the merger, the Meridiana fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[9]

Meridiana fleet
Aircraft In service Orders Passengers Notes
J Y Total
Boeing 737-700 1 — — 149 149 Transferred to Air Italy
Boeing 737-800 7 — — 189 189 Transferred to Air Italy
Boeing 767-300ER 3 — 12 276 288 Transferred to Air Italy
— 304 304
Total 11 —

Fleet development

[edit]

In April 2017, it was announced that, due to Qatar Airways purchasing a stake in the airline, the airline is to complete a fleet modernization with 20 Boeing 737 MAX 8 to be delivered from the second quarter of 2018, taken from Qatar's orders from Boeing. In October 2017, it was announced that the airline would replace its long-haul fleet with new aircraft transferred from Qatar Airways' new orders. It was announced that the airline would operate a mix of Boeing 787 and Airbus A330.[10][11] The fleet development plan was later Transferred to Air Italy.

Historical fleet

[edit]

Meridiana previously operated the following aircraft types:

Meridiana historical fleet
Aircraft Total Introduced Retired Remark
Airbus A319-100 5 2004 2010 EI-DEY, EI-DEZ, EI-DFA,
EI-DFP, I-EEZQ[citation needed]
Airbus A320-200 12 2010 2015 [citation needed]
Airbus A330-200 3 2010 2015 I-EEZJ, I-EEZM, EI-EZL [citation needed]
ATR 42–300 3 2001 2010 LY-ARI leased from DOT LT
D-BCRP, D-BCRO
leased from Avanti Air[citation needed]
Boeing 737-300 2 2016 2016 EI-IGR, EI-IGS on lease[citation needed]
Boeing 737-400 1 2014 2017 9H-AMW on lease[citation needed]
Boeing 737-700 4 2013 2018 [citation needed]
Boeing 737-800 9 2013 2018 [citation needed]
Boeing 767-200 1 2014 I-AIGH<[citation needed]
Boeing 767-300ER 3 2014 2018 [citation needed]
British Aerospace 146-200 7 1991 2005 [citation needed]
British Aerospace 146-300 4 1991 1992 [citation needed]
McDonnell Douglas DC-9-51 6 1991 1999 [citation needed]
McDonnell Douglas MD-82 9 2013 2018 [citation needed]
McDonnell Douglas MD-83 12 1991 2010 [citation needed]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Meridiana

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Meridiana Fly S.p.A., commonly known as Meridiana, was a privately owned Italian headquartered in , , that operated scheduled domestic and international flights, as well as charter services, from its founding in 1991 until ceasing operations in 2018. The airline's origins trace back to Alisarda, established in 1963 as an service in by the , which expanded into scheduled operations and merged with Universair in May 1991 to form Meridiana. In 2010, Meridiana merged with Eurofly, adopting the name Meridiana Fly, before acquiring the smaller carrier Air Italy in 2013 and reverting to the Meridiana brand. By the mid-2010s, it had become 's second-largest , with a fleet of around 13 serving key domestic routes like , , , and , alongside international charters primarily to and long-haul destinations using widebody jets. Meridiana's fleet evolved over its history, starting with McDonnell Douglas DC-9s and MD-83s, 146s, and ATR 42s in the early , before transitioning to an all-Boeing configuration by that included 737s, 767s, and MD-82s, with A320s and A330s used earlier for short- and long-haul routes. The was majority-owned by Alisarda S.p.A. (51%) and held a 49% stake by through AQA Holding, which facilitated expansion plans including new U.S. routes from to and New York starting in 2018. In February 2018, amid Alitalia's insolvency, Meridiana rebranded as the new Air Italy, unveiling a fresh and aiming to grow its fleet to 50 aircraft by 2022 while enhancing short-haul and transatlantic services; however, the rebranded entity entered liquidation in February 2020.

History

Origins and early development (1963–1990)

Alisarda S.p.A. was established on 29 March 1963 by Prince Karim , the spiritual leader of the Ismaili , with the primary objective of boosting to by providing reliable air connectivity to the island. The airline, named after the Aga Khan's development consortium Alisarda, was headquartered and primarily based at Olbia Airport, serving as a gateway to the emerging luxury resort area of , which the prince had begun developing in the early 1960s to promote sustainable high-end . This initiative aligned with the Aga Khan's broader vision for the region, integrating aviation infrastructure with environmental preservation and economic growth through visitor influx. Operations commenced in May 1966 with scheduled domestic flights, initially utilizing two Nord 262 aircraft to link with , marking Alisarda's entry as a regional carrier focused on Sardinia's accessibility. By the late , the airline expanded its domestic network to include routes to , , and , replacing the Nord 262s with for improved efficiency on short-haul services. These early efforts emphasized operations tailored to holidaymakers, facilitating package tours that underscored Alisarda's role in nurturing Sardinia's sector amid the post-war European travel boom. A pivotal milestone came in the late and early with the introduction of jet aircraft, enabling Alisarda to launch its first international services, primarily flights to key European markets such as , to transport tourists directly to . This fleet modernization, which included variants like the DC-9-30 and DC-9-50, supported rapid growth in passenger traffic and positioned the as a vital link between mainland , , and Sardinia's coastal destinations. The saw further route diversification within and select European points, with services forming the backbone of operations to accommodate seasonal demand from travelers. During the 1980s, Alisarda navigated economic pressures from global oil price shocks, which strained many European carriers through higher fuel costs and fluctuating demand, yet the airline stabilized operations by leveraging Sardinia's recovering appeal and focusing on cost-effective models. By March 1990, the fleet had grown to 11 , employing approximately 1,000 staff, reflecting sustained development under the Aga Khan's ownership and the airline's integral tie to regional economic initiatives.

Renaming and expansion (1991–2009)

In May 1991, Alisarda merged with the Spanish charter airline Universair to form Meridiana S.p.A., adopting a new name and logo to emphasize a wider Mediterranean orientation while maintaining strong connections to its Sardinian heritage through the Alisarda ownership group. The airline pursued aggressive expansion in the domestic market by enhancing connectivity from its Sardinian bases, particularly , to major Italian cities such as , , , , and , using to support growing demand. Internationally, Meridiana ventured into charter services to European destinations like and, in the late 1990s, introduced long-haul operations with Boeing 767 widebodies, including seasonal scheduled flights to New York and charters to African markets such as and , marking its shift toward a more diversified leisure carrier. This growth occurred amid broader transformations in Italian aviation, including the country's alignment with liberalization packages enacted in 1987, 1990, and 1992, which progressively deregulated fares, capacity, and to foster and reduce state dominance in the sector. Meridiana capitalized on these changes by engaging in wet-leasing partnerships with other carriers to optimize capacity during peak seasons, enabling flexible responses to fluctuating leisure travel patterns without heavy capital investment. Despite these advances, the period was not without hurdles, including labor disputes in the mid-1990s that culminated in a notable 1999 "virtual " where employees worked unpaid to protest management decisions amid financial pressures. By the early , however, Meridiana achieved significant milestones, blending its roots with expanded scheduled services and reaching peak annual passenger volumes exceeding 5 million by 2008, underscoring its consolidation as a key player in Italy's leisure aviation niche.

Mergers, acquisitions, and restructuring (2010–2017)

In February 2010, Meridiana merged with Eurofly, its majority-owned , to form Meridiana fly S.p.A., creating Italy's second-largest by integrating their fleets of approximately 50 and combining route networks focused on destinations in the Mediterranean and long-haul services to and the . This consolidation aimed to achieve cost efficiencies through shared operations, reduced overheads, and optimized scheduling, addressing competitive pressures from low-cost carriers in the European market. In October 2011, Meridiana fly acquired the bankrupt Air Italy for an undisclosed sum, gaining full control of the Milan-based charter operator and expanding its presence in with additional slots at . The integration allowed Meridiana to incorporate Air Italy's fleet and short-haul routes, enhancing connectivity between northern hubs and while streamlining administrative functions to mitigate financial losses from Air Italy's insolvency. From 2014 to 2017, Meridiana underwent significant financial amid ongoing losses and high operational costs, including plans to reduce its MD-80 fleet to seven aircraft based in and defer job cuts affecting up to 1,600 positions until October 2014 to negotiate with unions. These efforts, supported by discussions for external investment, positioned the airline for recovery through route network adjustments and cost controls, culminating in early elements of a "new Meridiana" strategy focused on sustainable growth. Talks with intensified during this period, leading to a 2017 by AQA Holding, a new entity with holding 49% and Alisarda (Meridiana's longtime owner) retaining 51%, which facilitated operational synergies such as improved fuel procurement and codeshare opportunities post-merger integrations.

Rebranding to Air Italy and cessation (2018–2020)

In March 2018, Meridiana fly underwent a comprehensive to Air Italy, effective from 1 March, under the ownership of AQA Holding, in which held a 49 percent stake acquired in 2017 while Alisarda retained 51 percent. The initiative, announced at a in on 20 February 2018, sought to reposition the carrier as 's flagship airline, emphasizing premium passenger experiences and targeting younger travelers through a modernized brand identity, including new liveries and an expanded route network. Operations under the Meridiana name concluded on 28 February 2018, with Air Italy inheriting its assets and launching ambitious growth plans, such as adding long-haul routes to destinations like New York and from Milan Malpensa, alongside short-haul services to Italian cities including and . Qatar Airways played a pivotal role in the revival effort, providing financial support, fleet enhancements, and strategic guidance to facilitate expansion, including the introduction of and aircraft starting in 2018, with goals to reach 50 aircraft and 10 million annual passengers by 2022. Despite these investments, the venture struggled with mounting financial losses—€40 million in 2017, €160 million in 2018, and a projected €230 million in 2019—driven by declining revenues from €350 million to €330 million, the grounding of jets following 2018 and 2019 crashes, and canceled Asian routes amid competitive pressures. Air Italy suspended all flights on 11 February 2020, just weeks before the full escalation of the , due to unsustainable financial issues and deteriorating market conditions that had already led shareholders to vote for voluntary . The decision, supported by both Alisarda and despite the latter's offers for additional aid contingent on full shareholder commitment, marked an early casualty of in leisure aviation, where reduced demand and travel restrictions amplified pre-existing woes. Remaining flights until 25 February were operated by partner carriers, with tickets for later dates refunded, while the airline's small fleet of three operational 737s and other leased aircraft faced immediate grounding. In the aftermath, Air Italy's aircraft, including four A330s wet-leased from and eight 737s, were returned to lessors as part of the process, which remains ongoing as of 2025 with unresolved disputes and obligations, and resulted in significant staff redundancies for its approximately 1,400 employees. The carrier's dissolution severed the direct lineage of Meridiana, founded in 1963, effectively ending over five decades of operations under its evolving brands and highlighting the vulnerabilities of leisure-focused airlines to economic shocks like the 2020 pandemic. In September 2025, the Air Italy brand was revived by , a separate Italian carrier, following a legal resolution, but this new entity has no direct connection to the original airline.

Corporate structure

Ownership and governance

Meridiana was established in 1963 as Alisarda, fully owned by Alisarda S.p.A., a holding company controlled by Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, with the aim of promoting tourism to . This structure ensured centralized decision-making under the Aga Khan's leadership, with early governance influenced by his business interests in the region. A significant shift occurred in 1991 through the merger with Spanish carrier Universair, forming Meridiana while Alisarda maintained control. The 2010 merger with Eurofly evolved the structure under Alisarda's , which retained a 78.9% position in the resulting Meridiana Fly. By 2017, ownership transitioned to Holding, where Alisarda held 51% and acquired 49% via the new entity, formalizing a . Governance was overseen by a board primarily appointed from Alisarda's , reflecting the Aga Khan's ongoing control, with early CEOs drawn from his associated group to align operations with and goals. Notable tenures included Massimo Chieli as CEO until July 2011, succeeded by Giuseppe Gentile until early 2013, and Roberto Scaramella from 2013 to 2014, during which the board navigated mergers and financial challenges. Following the 2017 investment, the board saw appointments such as Marco Rigotti as Chairman of AQA Holding and Francesco Violante as Chairman of Meridiana, enhancing international oversight. Throughout its history, Meridiana complied with regulations from Italy's Ente Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile (ENAC) and aviation authorities, including adherence to EU Regulation 965/2012 on air operations. The pre-2018 model under AQA Holding provided governance stability by combining Alisarda's regional expertise with ' global resources, though it culminated in the 2018 transfer of ownership leading to the rebranding as Air Italy. Alisarda S.p.A., the majority owner, was placed into in 2024 due to financial losses.

Headquarters and facilities

Meridiana's primary headquarters was located at in , , since the airline's founding in 1963 by Alisarda. The administrative offices occupied the Centro Direzionale within the airport complex, serving as the central hub for management and operations. This location supported the airline's early focus on regional connectivity from . The airline operated maintenance hangars at , dedicated to line and heavy maintenance for its fleet, including private aircraft services. A secondary operational base was established at , which became increasingly prominent after the 2010 merger with Eurofly and the 2018 rebranding to Air Italy, facilitating long-haul and domestic flights. Following the rebranding, facilities at both Olbia and Malpensa were shared under the Air Italy banner to support fleet expansion plans. Facilities at underwent evolution in the 1990s to accommodate the airline's growth, including upgrades to handle a larger fleet after the 1991 merger with Universair, which expanded operations to 11 aircraft and over 1,000 employees by 1990. Meridiana's infrastructure was uniquely integrated with Sardinia's tourism sector, acting as the primary gateway to the region, bolstered by Alisarda's historical development of the airport in 1969 and its ownership stake in managing company Geasar until 2020.

Subsidiaries and affiliates

Meridiana's subsidiaries played a crucial role in supporting its core operations through specialized services in and . One key subsidiary was Meridiana Maintenance S.p.A., established in 2009 by Meridiana and Eurofly, which provided , repair, and overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft at its hangar in Olbia Airport. This entity handled both Meridiana's fleet and third-party clients, contributing to operational efficiency and revenue diversification beyond passenger flights. Another significant subsidiary was Wokita S.r.l., a based in that offered package holidays, hotel bookings, and travel services, often integrated with Meridiana's flights to enhance customer offerings in the market. Wokita supported revenue diversification by bundling products with , particularly for routes to Mediterranean destinations. However, Wokita was placed into in the years leading up to as part of broader corporate streamlining. In 2011, Meridiana fully integrated Air Italy S.p.A. as a after acquiring the Milan-based carrier, which operated short-haul flights and provided capacity support for Meridiana's network until the 2018 rebranding. This affiliation allowed for expanded operations at and shared resources for ground handling and catering at key bases. Affiliates in handling services at operational hubs further aided support functions like passenger processing and aircraft turnaround. During the 2010–2017 period, Meridiana streamlined its by consolidating subsidiaries to reduce costs and focus on core competencies amid financial challenges. By 2018, with the rebranding to Air Italy, remaining subsidiaries such as Meridiana Maintenance were incorporated directly into the parent entity to centralize operations under the new brand. These changes facilitated revenue diversification through ancillary services while aligning with the airline's growth ambitions.

Operations

Route network

Meridiana's route network primarily centered on connecting Sardinia's with major Italian cities, forming the backbone of its domestic operations. Key routes included year-round services from Olbia to and Linate, alongside connections to and , which supported to the island. Following expansions in the 2010s, the airline extended services to , with additional links from Malpensa to , , , and during peak seasons. These domestic flights emphasized regional connectivity, with a strong focus on Sardinia's airports as hubs. Internationally, operated to numerous European destinations, including charters and scheduled flights to , the , , and the , with major cities like , , and served from Italian bases. Long-haul routes included African services to in , while the network also included Middle Eastern points, though these were less extensive compared to European operations. At its peak in 2017, Meridiana served 66 international routes, reflecting a broad holiday-oriented portfolio. The airline's operations were heavily seasonal, with summer schedules intensifying charters to Mediterranean resorts in , , and Italy's coastal areas to capitalize on tourism peaks. Winter programming shifted toward sun destinations in and the , such as , to serve leisure travelers seeking warmer climates. This pattern aligned with Meridiana's charter heritage, balancing scheduled services with ad-hoc holiday flights. Meridiana's network evolved significantly from the , starting with around 20 destinations focused on domestic and basic European charters, to over 60 by 2017 through mergers and fleet expansions that enabled long-haul capabilities. Growth was driven by increased frequencies to core routes and diversification into intercontinental markets, peaking just before the 2018 rebranding.

Codeshare agreements and partnerships

Meridiana pursued codeshare agreements and strategic partnerships to complement its proprietary route network, focusing on domestic connectivity, European feeder services, and long-haul expansion. These collaborations enabled revenue sharing through interline ticketing and provided passengers with broader access to connecting flights operated by partner airlines. Following the 2010 merger with Eurofly, Meridiana intensified its partnership efforts, entering into multiple codeshare deals with European carriers to enhance regional connectivity. For instance, in 2011, it established a codeshare with , placing the IG flight code on services between Italian cities and German hubs including , , , and , which supported feeder traffic to . Similarly, a 2014 extension of its codeshare with Iberia included routes from Linate to and to , facilitating Spanish-Italian links and onward connections. Additional agreements with airlines such as for Malta-Italy routes and for Greece-Italy services further bolstered European feeds, allowing Meridiana to offer seamless itineraries to over 20 additional regional destinations without expanding its own fleet. Domestically, Meridiana maintained a codeshare with Blue Panorama Airlines, enabling mutual code placement on select intra-Italy flights to improve coverage in the competitive short-haul market. These arrangements, including frequent flyer program tie-ins where applicable, helped distribute traffic across Italian hubs and supported revenue models based on prorated fares. The most significant partnership emerged post-2017 with Qatar Airways, following the latter's acquisition of a 49% stake in Meridiana's parent company AQA Holding. This strategic alliance, which continued into the Air Italy era after the 2018 rebranding, included a codeshare agreement launched in April 2018 that placed Qatar Airways' QR code on Air Italy's domestic services from Milan Malpensa to six key cities: Rome Fiumicino, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Cagliari, and Turin. Reciprocal benefits extended to frequent flyer programs, with Qatar Privilege Club members earning and redeeming Avios on these routes, while the overall partnership facilitated joint long-haul initiatives. Through the Qatar Airways collaboration, Meridiana/Air Italy gained effective access to more than 100 additional global destinations via Doha's hub, leveraging revenue sharing on connecting traffic and enabling expansion into intercontinental markets such as and . This partnership marked a shift toward integrated operations, contrasting with earlier bilateral codeshares by incorporating equity ties and coordinated fleet utilization for long-haul growth.

Fleet

Fleet at rebranding (2018)

At the time of its to Air Italy in February , Meridiana operated a fleet of 11 , consisting of 1 Boeing 737-700, 7 Boeing 737-800s, and 3 Boeing 767-300ERs. The narrowbody 737-700 and 737-800 aircraft were configured in an all-economy layout optimized for leisure travel, with the 737-800s featuring 189 seats and the 737-700 accommodating 148 seats. The widebody 767-300ERs, Meridiana's only long-haul capable aircraft, were fitted with a two-class arrangement of 12 seats and 241 economy seats, totaling 253 passengers each, supporting the airline's focus on vacation routes to destinations like the and . All aircraft bore the traditional Meridiana of white with blue and yellow accents, and representative registrations included EI-IGT for a 737-800 and I-AIGH for a 767-300ER. The fleet's average age stood at approximately 15 years, with the 737s averaging 14.4 years and the 767s around 20.8 years, reflecting a mix of efficiency for short-haul operations and capacity for transatlantic flights. All 11 were leased rather than owned, with lessors including AviaAM Leasing for some 737-700s, enabling flexibility during the transition. Following the , the entire fleet was transferred to the new Air Italy entity, where the existing aircraft continued operations in the Meridiana until phased out in favor of newer models. This composition highlighted Meridiana's emphasis on no widebodies beyond the 767s, prioritizing leisure-oriented narrowbody efficiency for its Mediterranean and European network.
Aircraft TypeNumberConfigurationAverage Age (years)Ownership
Boeing 737-7001148Y14.4Leased
Boeing 737-8007189Y14.4Leased
Boeing 767-300ER312J + 241Y20.8Leased

Historical fleet composition

Meridiana's historical fleet traces its origins to predecessor Alisarda, founded in 1963 as an air taxi service on Sardinia, with scheduled operations commencing in 1966 using turboprop aircraft for domestic routes. Alisarda initially relied on the Aérospatiale Nord 262 for short-haul services to mainland Italy, transitioning to Fokker F27 Friendship turboprops in the late 1960s to support growing charter demand. By the 1970s, Alisarda shifted to with the introduction of the family, enabling international flights to destinations like . The operated variants including the DC-9-10 (2 aircraft), DC-9-30 (2 aircraft), and DC-9-50 (7 aircraft), which formed the backbone of its fleet through the 1980s. In the mid-1980s, Alisarda expanded with 7 McDonnell Douglas MD-82s, enhancing capacity for medium-haul operations; by 1990, the total fleet stood at 11 aircraft. Meridiana was established in 1991 through the merger of Alisarda and the Spanish charter carrier Universair, inheriting a fleet centered on aging McDonnell Douglas types. It continued operating 6 DC-9-50s until their retirement in 1999 and maintained 9 MD-82s alongside 9 MD-83s into the 2000s, with the entire MD-80 series phased out by 2018 to improve . To diversify, Meridiana introduced the 146-200 in 1991, operating 7 units until 2004 for short domestic and European routes. In the 1990s, Meridiana entered the Boeing era with the 737-300 and 737-400 narrowbodies, adding 2 of the former (2014–2016) and others to replace older jets on leisure routes. The 2000s saw further modernization with 4 Boeing 737-700s (2013–2018) and 9 Boeing 737-800s (2013–2018), alongside temporary Airbus A319-100 (5 aircraft, 2004–2010), A320-200 (12 aircraft, 2013–2015), and A330-200 (3 aircraft, 2009–2015) for short-, medium-, and long-haul routes. For long-haul services, 3 Boeing 767-300ERs were acquired in the 1990s and remained in service through 2018, with 1 Boeing 767-200 added briefly (2015–2017). The fleet also included 3 leased ATR 42-300 turboprops from 2001 to 2010 for regional connectivity. Following the full acquisition of Air Italy in October 2011, Meridiana's fleet peaked at 40 aircraft, reflecting expanded operations before subsequent retirements tied to economic pressures and efficiency drives.
Aircraft TypeVariantsQuantityOperational PeriodNotes
Aérospatiale Nord 262-Unspecified1966–late 1960sInitial turboprops for domestic routes.
-UnspecifiedLate 1960s–1970sCharter support.
-10, -30, -5011 total1970s–1999Jet introduction for international charters; retired progressively.
McDonnell Douglas MD-80MD-82, MD-8318 total1980s–2018Medium-haul mainstay; phased out for efficiency.
146-20071991–2004Regional jets post-merger.
737-300, 737-400Unspecified (at least 2 -300s)1990s–2016Short-haul leisure fleet expansion.
Boeing 737 NG737-700, 737-80013 total2000s–2018Modern narrowbody additions.
767-200, 767-300ER4 total1990s–2018Long-haul operations.
ATR 4242-30032001–2010Leased regional turboprops.
A319-100, A320-20017 total2004–2015Temporary narrowbody use.
A330-20032009–2015Leased long-haul widebodies.

Fleet development and modernization efforts

Meridiana initiated its fleet modernization in the 1970s by shifting from turboprop , such as the and Fokker F27, to jetliners including the and MD-80 series, which improved operational efficiency for domestic and services to . This transition supported expanded route networks and aligned with industry trends toward faster, more reliable jet operations. During the and , the airline focused on phasing out older MD-80 variants amid restructuring, reducing the active MD-80 fleet to seven aircraft by 2012 while retaining some for continued short-haul duties. The full retirement of the MD-80 series occurred in March , coinciding with the rebranding to Air , as the type struggled with rising maintenance costs and environmental compliance. In 2017, Meridiana ordered 20 8 aircraft to replace aging narrowbodies, with the first three delivered to Air Italy in before the global grounding of the type. Long-haul modernization efforts announced in 2017 envisioned incorporating 787-8s alongside leased A330-200s from , aiming to build a competitive widebody fleet for transatlantic and Asian routes. However, these plans shifted in 2019, with the 787 order canceled due to production delays, leading to a decision for additional A330s to modestly expand long-haul capacity. Meridiana's strategies were hampered by heavy dependence on leasing, particularly for widebodies sourced from , which limited ownership flexibility and exposed the airline to lessor terms during financial strains. Additionally, compliance with stringent noise regulations under ICAO Chapter 4 standards accelerated the retirement of the MD-80 fleet, as the older JT8D engines failed to meet updated environmental thresholds at major European airports.

References

  1. https://simpleflying.com/the-story-of-italian-airline-meridiana/
  2. https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Meridiana
  3. https://qns.com/2018/03/meridiana-changes-name-to-air-italy/
  4. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/Meridiana-is-now-Air-Italy
  5. https://pressmare.it/en/media/press-mare/2025-02-05/karim-aga-khan-iv-passion-yachting-legacy-costa-smeralda-82020
  6. https://ismailimail.blog/2025/03/25/italy-sardinia-enac-board-approves-naming-the-olbia-airport-in-honour-of-his-highness-prince-karim-aga-khan-iv/
  7. https://www.museodelmarchioitaliano.it/en/air-italy-2/
  8. https://www.planespotters.net/airline/Alisarda
  9. https://avioradar.net/good-bye-air-italy-ex-meridiana/
  10. https://www.academia.edu/42018665/The_Evolution_of_the_Airline_Industry_Regulation_Events_and_Influencing_Factors
  11. https://www.key.aero/article/air-italy-birth-new-national-carrier
  12. https://worldairlinenews.com/tag/meridiana-fly/
  13. https://thepointsguy.com/news/air-italy-make-milan-great-again/
  14. https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/documents/SN00182/SN00182.pdf
  15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0969699700000107
  16. https://www.eurofound.europa.eu/en/resources/article/1999/1999-annual-review-italy
  17. https://worldairlinenews.com/tag/meridiana/
  18. https://www.flightglobal.com/merged-life-begins-for-meridiana-and-eurofly/92252.article
  19. https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/meridiana-how-to-escape-the-impact-of-loss-making-italian-airlines-120241
  20. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/33169-meridiana-parent-to-revert-to-alisarda-as-ex-ceos-in-hot-water
  21. https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/meridiana-and-air-italy-to-merge-as-italian-shakeout-continues-56509
  22. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/31378-italys-meridiana-postpones-plans-to-axe-1400-positions
  23. https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/qatar-airways--italys-meridiana-part-1-similar-to-etihad-alitalia-beneficial-but-smaller-partner-265937
  24. https://www.reuters.com/article/business/qatar-airways-expands-airline-investments-with-italys-meridiana-idUSKCN1C32C5/
  25. https://www.qatarairways.com/en/press-releases/2018/february/meridiana-launches-new-look-air-italy.html
  26. https://worldairlinenews.com/2018/03/01/meridiana-officially-becomes-the-new-air-italy-today-retires-the-last-md-80/
  27. https://www.forbes.com/sites/dominicdudley/2020/02/12/qatar-unable-to-prevent-air-italy-collapse/
  28. https://www.cnn.com/2020/02/11/business/air-italy-collapse
  29. https://simpleflying.com/air-italy-history/
  30. https://simpleflying.com/air-italy-is-back-but-its-not-the-same-airline/
  31. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/16012-air-italy-to-be-merged-into-meridiana-fly-from-february-15
  32. https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/qatar-airways/completion-meridiana-agreement-qatar-airways-alisarda/
  33. https://www.enac.gov.it/sites/default/files/allegati/2018-Nov/CartadeiserviziQLTAIRITALYREV03EN.pdf
  34. https://italiavola.com/2025/08/18/alisarda-e-stata-liquidata-si-chiude-un-viaggio-durato-oltre-60-anni/
  35. https://www.airlines-inform.com/world_airlines/meridiana.html
  36. https://www.airlinesheadoffices.com/head-offices/meridiana-airlines-corporate-office-headquarters/
  37. https://www.mroglobal-online.com/companies/meridiana-maintenance/
  38. https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/air-italy-leads--europes-national-airline-branding-whats-in-a-name-413778
  39. https://www.hotelgabbianoazzurro.com/en/Blog/Karim-Aga-Khan-and-The-Emerald-Coast
  40. https://www.f2isgr.it/en/media/press-releases/f2i-acquisisce-da-alisarda-la-quota-di-controllo-dell-aeroporto-olbia-costa-smeralda.html
  41. https://www.flightglobal.com/meridiana-details-newly-created-maintenance-operation/89114.article
  42. https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/additional_data/m8361_151_4.pdf
  43. https://ec.europa.eu/competition/mergers/cases/decisions/m8361_422_5.pdf
  44. https://www.linkedin.com/company/meridiana-maintenance
  45. https://www.aviation24.be/defunct-airlines/meridiana/meridiana-launches-summer-2018-network-new-long-haul-flights-milan-new-york-miami/
  46. https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/qatar-airways--italys-meridiana-part-2-route-opportunities-and-outlook-266341
  47. https://atqnews.com/national-carrier-bug-catches-europe-as-air-meridiana-rebrands-as-air-italy/
  48. https://www.airlineroutemaps.com/maps/Meridiana
  49. https://www.flightglobal.com/air-berlin-signs-codeshare-agreement-with-meridiana-fly/102363.article
  50. https://travelprnews.com/iberia-extends-code-share-agreement-with-meridiana-to-cover-the-madrid-naples-route-that-the-italian-carrier-has-just-launched-765431234567890/travel-press-release/2014/12/15/
  51. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/7058-meridiana-news-update
  52. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/7324-olympic-air-news-update
  53. https://www.alternativeairlines.com/meridiana
  54. https://www.qatarairways.com/en/press-releases/2017/sep/completion-of-the-meridiana-agreement-by-qatar-airways-and-alisa.html
  55. https://www.qatarairways.com/en/press-releases/2018/april/qatar-airways-and-air-italy-announce-codeshare-.html
  56. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/64493-meridiana-fly-confirms-airitaly-rebranding-plots-growth
  57. https://centreforaviation.com/analysis/reports/meridiana-to-pursue-growth-rebrand-as-air-italy-meridiana-has-previously-been-shrinking-383418
  58. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/64858-meridianas-air-italy-production-carrier-ceases-flight-ops
  59. https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b737ng-32421.htm
  60. https://www.airfleets.net/ficheapp/plane-b767-23973.htm
  61. https://www.planespotters.net/photo/1622796/ei-fmr-meridiana-boeing-767-304er-wl
  62. https://www.key.aero/article/goodbye-meridiana-hello-air-italy
  63. https://forums.jetphotos.com/forum/general-discussion-forums/aviation-discussion-forum/55627-the-planned-duties-of-the-last-remaining-md-87-of-sas-in-active-service
  64. https://www.scribd.com/document/362134990/FR-2011-Meridina
  65. https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/8005-meridiana-fly-news-update
  66. https://www.flightglobal.com/analysis/airbus-tension-air-italy-and-covid-how-qatar-airways-first-737-max-order-hit-the-buffers/147343.article
  67. https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/aircraft-propulsion/air-italy-ditches-planned-787s-a330s
  68. https://transport.ec.europa.eu/system/files/2016-09/2011-03-impact-assessment-revisions-regulation-95-93.pdf
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