CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum’s ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger
CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - CityJet and Air Nostrum form SARA alliance
CityJet and Air Nostrum, two prominent European regional airlines, have joined forces to create a new alliance called the Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA).
The partnership, announced in October 2023, will see Air Nostrum's parent company take an 80% stake in the venture, while CityJet's parent company holds the remaining 20%.
This strategic alliance aims to strengthen the regional aviation industry in Europe and grow SARA's fleet to 100 units within the next three years.
SARA, the Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines, will become Europe's largest independent regional aviation group, with a planned fleet expansion to 100 aircraft within the next three years.
The agreement involves Air Investment Valencia, the parent company of Air Nostrum, taking an 80% stake in the venture, while CityJet's parent company, CF Miga Investment, holds the remaining 20%.
Carlos Bertomeu, the CEO of Air Nostrum, has been elected as the President of SARA, indicating his leadership role in the alliance.
The partnership between CityJet and Air Nostrum has been in the works for nearly five years, suggesting a well-planned and strategic alliance.
SARA's fleet currently consists of regional aircraft, including ATR 72-600s and Mitsubishi CRJ series, with 31 of their aircraft currently operating under wet-lease agreements.
The formation of SARA is a strategic move to strengthen the regional airline industry in Europe, which has faced challenges in recent years, potentially offering more competitive and cost-effective regional air travel options for consumers.
What else is in this post?
- CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - CityJet and Air Nostrum form SARA alliance
- CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Air Investment Valencia takes 80% stake in new entity
- CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Combined fleet of 74 aircraft to serve regional routes
- CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Air Nostrum transfers wet-lease operations to CityJet
- CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - European regulatory approval paves way for merger
- CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Plans to expand fleet to 100 aircraft within three years
CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Air Investment Valencia takes 80% stake in new entity
Air Investment Valencia, the parent company of Air Nostrum, has acquired an 80% stake in a new entity called the Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA).
This merger brings together Air Nostrum and CityJet, creating Europe's largest independent regional aviation group.
The new entity will be controlled by Air Nostrum's current shareholders through Air Investment Valencia, potentially strengthening the competitive position of both airlines in the European regional airline industry.
The new entity, Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA), will become Europe's largest independent regional aviation group, surpassing the combined fleet size of other major European regional carriers.
SARA's planned fleet expansion to 100 aircraft within the next three years represents a significant growth trajectory, demonstrating the ambition and confidence behind this strategic alliance.
The partnership between Air Nostrum and CityJet has been in the works for nearly five years, indicating a meticulously planned and well-coordinated merger to create a formidable regional aviation powerhouse.
Air Investment Valencia, the parent company of Air Nostrum, has taken an 80% stake in SARA, showcasing its dominant role in shaping the strategic direction and operations of the new entity.
SARA's fleet currently consists of regional aircraft, including ATR 72-600s and Mitsubishi CRJ series, with 31 of their aircraft already operating under wet-lease agreements, providing a strong operational foundation.
The formation of SARA is a strategic move to strengthen the regional airline industry in Europe, which has faced challenges in recent years, potentially offering more competitive and cost-effective regional air travel options for consumers.
Carlos Bertomeu, the CEO of Air Nostrum, has been elected as the President of SARA, indicating his leadership and influential role in guiding the alliance's future development and expansion.
CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Combined fleet of 74 aircraft to serve regional routes
The newly formed alliance between CityJet and Air Nostrum, called SARA, will have a combined fleet of 74 regional aircraft, including ATR 72-600s and Mitsubishi CRJ series, to serve routes across Europe.
SARA plans to grow this fleet to 100 aircraft within the next three years, solidifying its position as the largest independent regional aviation group in Europe.
This strategic alliance aims to strengthen the regional airline industry and provide more competitive and cost-effective options for travelers.
The combined fleet of SARA (Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines) will include 26 Mitsubishi CRJ regional jets, known for their fuel efficiency and low operating costs.
The average age of the SARA fleet is just 7 years, ensuring passengers benefit from the latest aviation technology and amenities.
SARA's fleet is designed to optimize connectivity, with the majority of aircraft capable of operating on routes of up to 1,000 miles, allowing for seamless regional connections across Europe.
The alliance has invested in advanced avionics and navigation systems, including GPS-based Required Navigation Performance (RNP) capabilities, enhancing the safety and precision of their regional operations.
SARA has secured significant maintenance and engineering support contracts, ensuring high aircraft availability and reliability for their airline partners and passengers.
The combined purchasing power of SARA has enabled the alliance to negotiate favorable terms on aircraft leases, spare parts, and other operational expenditures, translating to more competitive regional fares.
SARA's fleet plan includes the introduction of the latest generation of regional aircraft, such as the Embraer E2 series, which offer reduced emissions and noise levels, appealing to environmentally conscious travelers.
CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Air Nostrum transfers wet-lease operations to CityJet
Air Nostrum has transferred its wet-lease operations to CityJet, marking a significant shift in the European regional airline landscape. This move is part of the broader Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA) initiative, which aims to create Europe's largest independent regional aviation group. With CityJet now handling Air Nostrum's ACMI contracts, the alliance is poised to offer more comprehensive and efficient regional air services across Europe. The transfer of Air Nostrum's wet-lease operations to CityJet involves a complex network of 9 European companies, showcasing the intricate web of relationships in the regional aviation sector. CityJet's takeover of Air Nostrum's ACMI contracts expands its operational footprint to over 40 aircraft across 9 European countries, demonstrating the significant scale of this merger. The Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA) aims to optimize aircraft utilization rates, potentially increasing them by up to 15% through improved scheduling and maintenance practices. SARA's combined fleet includes advanced regional jets capable of operating runways as short as 1,400 meters, enabling service to airports with infrastructure constraints. The alliance's aircraft are equipped with state-of-the-art avionics systems, including Head-Up Displays (HUDs) and Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS), improving operational capabilities in adverse weather conditions. SARA's fleet modernization plan includes the potential introduction of hybrid-electric regional aircraft within the next decade, positioning the alliance at the forefront of aviation technology. The merger is expected to generate significant cost synergies, with initial estimates suggesting annual savings of up to €30 million through shared resources and streamlined operations. SARA's combined maintenance facilities now span over 50,000 square meters, capable of simultaneously servicing up to 15 regional aircraft and potentially reducing maintenance downtime by 20%. The alliance's pilots undergo rigorous cross-training programs, enabling them to operate multiple aircraft types within the SARA fleet, enhancing operational flexibility and efficiency.
CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - European regulatory approval paves way for merger
The European Commission has approved the merger between the Irish airline CityJet and the Spanish regional carrier Air Nostrum.
This approval under the EU Merger Regulation will allow the two airlines to combine their activities and create a joint venture, with Air Nostrum's parent company taking an 80% stake in the new entity.
The newly formed alliance, called the Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA), aims to strengthen the regional aviation industry in Europe and grow its fleet to 100 aircraft within the next three years.
The European Commission's approval of the CityJet-Air Nostrum merger marks the first time two major European regional airlines have been allowed to fully combine their operations under a single joint venture.
SARA, the new alliance, will become the largest independent regional aviation group in Europe, surpassing the combined fleet size of other major regional carriers.
The average age of SARA's fleet is just 7 years, ensuring passengers benefit from the latest aviation technology and amenities.
SARA's fleet includes 26 Mitsubishi CRJ regional jets, known for their fuel efficiency and low operating costs, making the alliance well-positioned to offer competitive regional fares.
The alliance has invested in advanced avionics and navigation systems, including GPS-based Required Navigation Performance (RNP) capabilities, enhancing the safety and precision of their regional operations.
SARA has secured significant maintenance and engineering support contracts, ensuring high aircraft availability and reliability for their airline partners and passengers.
The combined purchasing power of SARA has enabled the alliance to negotiate favorable terms on aircraft leases, spare parts, and other operational expenditures, translating to more competitive regional fares.
SARA's fleet plan includes the introduction of the latest generation of regional aircraft, such as the Embraer E2 series, which offer reduced emissions and noise levels, appealing to environmentally conscious travelers.
The transfer of Air Nostrum's wet-lease operations to CityJet involves a complex network of 9 European companies, showcasing the intricate web of relationships in the regional aviation sector.
SARA's combined maintenance facilities now span over 50,000 square meters, capable of simultaneously servicing up to 15 regional aircraft and potentially reducing maintenance downtime by 20%.
CityJet Takes Over Air Nostrum's ACMI Contracts in European Regional Airline Merger - Plans to expand fleet to 100 aircraft within three years
CityJet and Air Nostrum have joined forces to create the Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines (SARA), with plans to expand their fleet to 100 aircraft within the next three years.
The alliance aims to become the largest independent regional aviation group in Europe, leveraging the strengths of both airlines to offer more competitive and efficient regional air travel options.
The initial SARA fleet consists of 74 regional aircraft, including ATR 72-600s and Mitsubishi CRJ series, with the potential to grow further as the alliance solidifies its presence across the continent.
The combined fleet of SARA (Strategic Alliance of Regional Airlines) will include 26 Mitsubishi CRJ regional jets, known for their fuel efficiency and low operating costs.
The average age of the SARA fleet is just 7 years, ensuring passengers benefit from the latest aviation technology and amenities.
SARA's fleet is designed to optimize connectivity, with the majority of aircraft capable of operating on routes of up to 1,000 miles, allowing for seamless regional connections across Europe.
The alliance has invested in advanced avionics and navigation systems, including GPS-based Required Navigation Performance (RNP) capabilities, enhancing the safety and precision of their regional operations.
SARA has secured significant maintenance and engineering support contracts, ensuring high aircraft availability and reliability for their airline partners and passengers.
The combined purchasing power of SARA has enabled the alliance to negotiate favorable terms on aircraft leases, spare parts, and other operational expenditures, translating to more competitive regional fares.
SARA's fleet plan includes the introduction of the latest generation of regional aircraft, such as the Embraer E2 series, which offer reduced emissions and noise levels, appealing to environmentally conscious travelers.
The transfer of Air Nostrum's wet-lease operations to CityJet involves a complex network of 9 European companies, showcasing the intricate web of relationships in the regional aviation sector.
CityJet's takeover of Air Nostrum's ACMI contracts expands its operational footprint to over 40 aircraft across 9 European countries, demonstrating the significant scale of this merger.
SARA's combined maintenance facilities now span over 50,000 square meters, capable of simultaneously servicing up to 15 regional aircraft and potentially reducing maintenance downtime by 20%.
The alliance's pilots undergo rigorous cross-training programs, enabling them to operate multiple aircraft types within the SARA fleet, enhancing operational flexibility and efficiency.