Azurair GmbH,Azur Air Imprint 15 December 2016 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.Neue Airline Azur sitzt in Düsseldorf 16 December 2017 (German source) 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. Azur Air will mit Boeing 737 und 757 wachsen 15 December 2016 (German source) Operations were firstly planned to start in spring 2017, Azur Air Germany to launch in 2Q17 using B767s 15 December 2016 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.cc-pr.com - Ab Juli 2017: AZUR air erhöht Frequenzen nach Punta Cana 5 May 2017
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.airliners.de - "Azur Air does not grow until further notice" 8 March 2018
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.airliners.de - Azur Air shrinks to one aircraft" (German) 31 July 2018ch-aviation.com - Azur Air Germany ends B767 ops, to close Berlin base in 4Q18 4 August 2018
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.airliners.de - "Confusion at Azur Air" (German) 14 September 2018 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.airliners.de - "Operations ceased with immediate effect: German Azur Air to be dissolved" (German) 26 October 2018 Prior to this, the owners tried to sell the airline's operational license without success.touristik-aktuell.de - Aus für Azur Air in Deutschland(German) 26 September 2018
Destinations
As of August 2018, Azur Air (Germany) served the following destinations:anextour.de - Sommerziele 2018 retrieved 4 August 2018
CityCountryAirportNotesAntalyaTurkeyAntalya AirportAmsterdamNetherlandsSchipholFor TransaviaBangkokThailandDon Mueang International AirportBerlinGermanyBerlin Schönefeld AirportDüsseldorfGermanyDüsseldorf AirportEnfidhaTunisiaEnfidha–Hammamet International AirportHannoverGermanyHannover AirportHurghadaEgyptHurghada International AirportMunichGermanyMunich AirportPalma de MallorcaSpainPalma de Mallorca Airport
Fleet The Azur Air (Germany) fleet consisted of the following aircraft as of September 2018:azurair.de - Fleet retrieved 24 September 2018
Aircraft typeIn servicePassengersRemarksBoeing 737-900ER2215all leasedBoeing 767-300ER1334all leasedTotal3
See also Azur Air Azur Air Ukraine
References
External links
Official website