About Blue Panaroma Airlines
A Quick Overview of Blue Panaroma Airlines
Blue Panorama Airlines S.p.A. was an Italian airline headquartered in Fiumicino, Italy, operating scheduled and charter flights primarily to domestic and international leisure destinations. Founded in 1998 by Franco Pecci, the airline aimed to provide affordable travel options, particularly for Italian vacationers, under its low-cost brand Blu-express and business charter services under Executive Blue. Blue Panorama became an IATA member in 2002 (IATA code: BV) and was known for its strong presence in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, and Albanian markets. However, financial difficulties, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, led to the suspension of operations in October 2021 and liquidation in December 2022. As of June 2025, Blue Panorama Airlines no longer operates.
History
Blue Panorama Airlines was established on September 14, 1998, in Rome by Franco Pecci, targeting leisure travelers with a focus on charter and scheduled flights to popular vacation destinations. The airline began operations with a fleet of Boeing 737s and later expanded to include wide-body aircraft for long-haul routes. Key milestones include:
- 2002: Became an IATA member, adopting the code BV.
- 2005: Launched Blu-express, a low-cost division operating Boeing 737s for short- and medium-haul flights, primarily within Europe and to Albania.
- 2012: Alitalia expressed interest in merging with Blue Panorama and Wind Jet but did not proceed. In October 2012, Blue Panorama entered bankruptcy protection, allowing restructuring under Italian law.
- 2013: Blu-express began flights to Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza after Belle Air ceased operations, strengthening its Albanian market presence.
- 2014: Requested extraordinary administration, maintaining operations under founder Franco Pecci’s leadership.
- 2017: Acquired by the Uvet Group, led by Luca Patanè, aiming to integrate the airline into a broader travel services portfolio focused on leisure, mobility management, events, and pharmaceutical logistics.
- 2019–2020: Announced a rebrand to Luke Air with a new yellow-blue livery on an Airbus A330-200, delivered in March 2020. The rebrand was delayed, and by September 2021, the website reflected "Luke Air operated by Blue Panorama Airlines."
- 2020: Retired its last Boeing 767-300ER, transitioning to Airbus A330-200s for long-haul routes.
- 2021: Suspended all operations on October 27 due to financial difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by bankruptcy protection filing.
- 2022: Retired both Airbus A330-200s, leaving no long-haul capable aircraft. The airline was liquidated in December 2022, ceasing all operations.
Operations
Blue Panorama operated from primary bases at Rome-Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP), with a secondary base in Tirana, Albania. Its network included over 30 destinations, many seasonal, across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa, and Asia. Key operational details:
- Scheduled Flights: Operated under Blu-express to 15 Italian cities and 14 Albanian airports, transporting over 700,000 passengers annually to Albania, where it was a market leader. Destinations included Greece (12 islands), the Indian Ocean (5 destinations), and Europe/Asia/Africa (14 destinations).
- Charter Flights: Operated under Executive Blue for business, corporate events, and pharmaceutical logistics, serving clients like tour operators and cruise lines.
- International Routes: Included Brazil, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Mexico, Antigua and Barbuda, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Spain, Turkey, and Senegal (e.g., Dakar from Milan Bergamo).
- Codeshare Agreements: Maintained partnerships with airlines like Cubana de Aviación, enhancing connectivity to Caribbean destinations.
The airline suspended operations on October 27, 2021, following the Italian Civil Aviation Authority (ENAC) announcement, with its air operator certificate suspended from September 2022 to March 2023.
