A low-cost airline is a low-cost airline that offers a very low fare for travel in exchange for the rejection of many traditional passenger services. What are the best low-cost airlines in Italy? Why are they good? You will find answers to these and other questions in the article.
Rise
How did low cost airlines come about? The concept of low-cost originated in the USA. From there, it spread across Europe in the early 1990s and then to many other countries around the world. The term "low-cost" in many languages of our planet is borrowed from English, where it originally referred to all airlines with a lower operating cost structure than their competitors.
The term "low-cost" is very often applied to any airline with low ticket prices and a narrow range of services, regardless of their operating versions. But low-cost airlines should not be confused with regional air carriers who work without service on short flights. Or with airlines with full service, but limiting the range of services.
Italian low-cost airlines
Italian low-cost airlines among travelers enjoyhuge popularity. There are only three low cost carriers operating in this country:
- Meridiana fly is the second major Italian low-cost airline. The airline operates both international and domestic flights.
- Air Dolomiti - envelops almost the entire country with a route network. It also flies to European countries.
- Blu-express - flies both on transnational routes and on domestic routes.
These three budget airlines are considered the best in Italy.
It is known that low-cost airlines Raynair and EasyJet fly to this country. Other low-cost airlines also carry passengers from Italy: Vueling, Norwegian, Germanwings, airBerlin, airB altic.
What are low cost carriers?
Many tourists like Italy's low-cost airlines. Let's consider them in as much detail as possible. These are airlines with cheap tickets, value-added services and new planes. The cost of low-cost airline tickets includes only a minimum of luggage and flights. Seat selection, carry-on baggage, in-flight meals and airport check-in must be paid separately. These airlines have only new planes in their fleet, as they have lower fuel consumption and do not require frequent maintenance.
Thanks to these airlines, you can fly for one ruble or one euro, but such tickets are very rare and are sold only for promotions. It is quite possible to purchase air tickets for 25 euros or 999 rubles. On average, people pay for a flightbudget airlines are half as much.
Luggage
Low-cost airlines in Italy have a small amount of luggage included in the ticket price. But it also happens that the carriage of all checked-in hand luggage is paid, and the cost of its transportation can be twice as high as the ticket price.
If you have a lot of luggage, it is better not to use the services of low-cost airlines. Overpaying for hand luggage will increase the cost of the flight many times over. Before purchasing cheap air tickets, it is imperative to clarify the rules for carrying luggage with airline employees.
Best Italian low-cost airline
What is the best Italian low-cost airline Air Dolomiti? This Italian airline was founded in Verona. It is based at Munich International Airport and Verona Airport. 100% of the company's shares have been owned by Deutsche Lufthansa AG since 2003.
History and data
Low-cost airlines in Italy are especially revered by travelers. The airline we are considering was founded in January 1989. The name of the company comes from a mountain range located in the Eastern Alps - the Dolomites (Italian Alpi Dolomiti).
This is the leading regional airline in Northern Italy. It has the following data:
- IATA code:EN.
- ICAO code: DLA.
- Address: Via Paolo Bembo, 70, Frazione di Dossobuono, Villafranca di Verona, 37062 Italy.
- Fleet: Embraer 195.
- Base air hubs: Trieste Friuli Venezia Giulia, Munich.
The second famous Italian low-cost airline
Meridiana SpA, operating as Meridiana (formerly Alisarda SpA and Meridiana fly SpA), is an Italian private airline headquartered in Olbia. Its main base is located in the air harbor of Olbia Costa Smeralda.
The airline operates charter and scheduled flights to domestic, transnational and European destinations from several bases in Italy. Some of its operations are carried out by a subsidiary of Air Italy under the Meridiana brand.
Chronicle
Meridiana SpA was created with the name of Alisard in 1963, on March 29, by Aga Khan Prince Karim al-Husseini with the aim of developing tourism in Sardinia. Planned flights began in 1964.
35% of new shares to strengthen the enterprise was issued by a new shareholder in 1989, and the Meridiana name was adopted in 1991, May 3rd. The first international services were implemented later in 1991 in Paris, Barcelona, Frankfurt and London.
At the end of February 2010, Meridiana fly was the second largest carrier in Italy. It was created by the merger of Eurofly, a specialist in long-haul charter flights to holiday destinations, and Meridiana, a planned operator of European and national flights, with the main goal of connecting Italy's base air hubs with Sicily and Sardinia.
In October 2011, Meridiana fly fully acquired Air Italy, the Italian charter airline, which now operates on behalf ofMeridiana.
In 2013, on January 16, the board of directors of Meridiana SpA confirmed the agreement to acquire Meridiana SpA of all ordinary shares of Meridiana, which were owned by the former shareholders of Air Italy Holding Srl. Today, the group is managed by Meridiana SpA Holding, which controls 89% of Meridiana fly, including 100% of Air Italy. The rest is on the Milan Stock Exchange.
When the Air Italy merger was completed, Meridiana fly reverted to its former, shorter name Meridiana in April 2013.
In 2014, the airline continued to change its brand, sending international flights to Moscow, Kyiv, London and other cities, and confirmed its leadership in Sardinia, focusing on Catania, Naples, Milan, the Verona air hub for Italian domestic flights.
In July 2016, it was announced that Qatar Airways acquired a 149% stake in Meridiana.
Fleet
So, you already know which low-cost airlines fly to Italy. Meridiana has codeshare agreements with the following airlines:
- Air M alta;
- Air Berlin;
- Blue Air;
- Air Moldova;
- S7 Airlines;
- Iberia;
- British Airways;
- Blue Panorama Airlines.
There are 39 aircraft in the company's fleet.
Low cost airline
Blue-express is a low cost Italian airline based in Rome. Performs international and domestic air transportation, is a link of the parent airline Blue Panorama Airlines.
Owner of Blue Panorama Airlines – Distral & Itr. Agree, low-cost airlines in Italy are very interesting to study.
As of September 2009, the fleet of the airline we are considering consisted of the following aircraft:
- three Boeing 737-300 aircraft;
- three Boeing 737-400 aircraft of parent airline Blue Panorama Airlines.
Prices
What are the prices offered by Italy's low-cost airlines for their services? We have already said that the Meridiana airline is one of the largest in Italy. Today, his planes carry passengers in the 51st direction. One of the airline's residences is located in Russia. Domestic flights of the airline are represented by such cities: Catania, Lampedusa, Napali, Palermo, Olbia, Rome, Milan, Cagliari, Turin, Verona, Rimini, Bologna, Genoa.
The average ticket price per traveler for domestic flights around the country is 40-50 euros one way.
Blue-Panorama's domestic flights are represented by the following Italian cities: Ancona, Rome, Genoa, Florence, Bologna, Milan, Lampedusa, Pisa, Perugia, Verona, Venice, Treviso, Turin, Reggio di Calabria.
Flights within the country here cost 30 euros in almost any direction per passenger.
Tickets
The domestic airlines of Italy's low-cost airlines are almost always filled with passengers. The cheapest tickets for one ruble or one euro are sold in advance and for new flights for promotional purposes. Low-cost airlines sell tickets at low prices to first customers as they fill upaircraft ticket price increases.
Low-cost airlines include 60-70% of the cost of a flight in the price of tickets, so about 30% of tickets are sold at a low fare. When the plane is full, the airline arranges a ticket sale to cash in on extra services and complete the flight.
When choosing a date, place of arrival and departure, be vigilant, as low-cost airline tickets cannot be returned! Some low-cost airlines offer to cancel a ticket, change the name of the traveler or change the date of travel, paying for it in advance. But this significantly increases the price of the flight. Very often, the pen alties for such changes are equal to the purchase of a new ticket.
Usually, low-cost airlines are chosen when only a flight is needed. Take few things, endure without food, register online, do not choose a seat in the aircraft cabin - then the air ticket will be really inexpensive. It must be remembered that the policy of low-cost airlines is aimed at reducing costs and earning on additional services.
Food
Meals on board low-cost airlines are always paid. Some offer only water for free. On average, the duration of flights of low-cost airlines does not exceed three hours - during this time it is not difficult to refuse food. If this is difficult for you, take a bag of cookies or nuts with you.
Choosing a seat
Choosing a seat in the cabin of low-cost airlines is paid. When booking a ticket, you will be offered a seat based on the workload of the aircraft. If you wish itchange, you will have to pay. Front row seats and spacious seats are sold at higher prices.
Register
If you are flying with a low-cost airline, you will have to check in online for the flight yourself. Check-in at the air harbor may be paid due to lower labor costs for workers at check-in counters. You need to print your boarding pass in advance, as this may also be a paid service.
Air hubs
All airlines pay service fees to air hubs: hand luggage handling, check-in of travelers, cabin cleaning, delivery to the aircraft, and so on. Not all major hubs provide low-cost airlines with low fares.
As a rule, to save money, low-cost airlines do not fly to central air berths, but choose those that are farther from megacities. In order to reduce the size of the air hub fee, low-cost airlines refuse services: they do not use buses or “sleeves”. Passengers walk to boarding.
Low-cost airlines do not pay air hubs for long-term parking. After boarding and issuing hand luggage, flight attendants prepare the plane for flight and immediately take travelers on the next flight. In order to save money, low-cost airlines provide overnight parking only at home air hubs. For this reason, airlines do not fly long distances.
It should be noted that the cabin of low-cost airlines is equipped with a huge number of seats with a small legroom, some low-cost airlines cannot recline the seat, there is also no business class.
