Category Archives: Darwin Airline

Darwin Airline is insolvent, will reorganize, but it is grounded

Darwin Airline (Lugano) has announced it will cease all scheduled operations. Instead the company will revert to being a charter airline. The ATR 72-500s (pictured) will be returned to the lessors.

In related news, the company has entered into reorganization proceedings after it was declared to be insolvent (bankrupt).

The airline had recently rebranded as Adria Switzerland in association with Adria Airways on September 16, 2017 but has encountered unfavorable market conditions.

Update: On November 28, 2017 the airline was grounded by Swiss authorities after its AOC was revoked due to financial concerns.

Copyright Photo: Etihad Regional-Darwin Airline ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) HB-ACB (msn 662) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 922532.

Adria Airways to add new service from Bern in the wake of the SkyWork closure (now cancelled)

Adria Airways has made this announcement:

After the announcement of expiry of SkyWork Airlines AG operating licence and cancellation of its flights from Bern (Berne), the Star Alliance carrier Adria Airways will establish flight connections from Bern starting on November 6, 2017.

Adria Airways will shortly station two aircraft in Bern and ensure continued connection between the Swiss capital and major European cities. Bern will thus continue to be connected to Berlin (TXL), Hamburg (HAM), Munich (MUC) and Vienna (VIE).

The planned flight schedule is as follows:

Update: Adria Airways cancelled plans for Bern service with the resumption of operations by SkyWork Airlines.

Copyright Photo: The new Bern flights will be operated by Adria Switzerland (Darwin Airline). Adria Switzerland SAAB 2000 HB-IYD (msn 059) (Etihad Regional colors) ZRH (Rolf Wallner). Image: 939608.

Etihad Airways’ 33.3% investment in Darwin Airline is approved

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has now received approval from FOCA to acquire a 33.3 percent share of Darwin Airline (Lugano), now operating as Etihad Regional.

Etihad issued this statement:

Etihad Airways has received the approval from Switzerland’s Federal Office of Civil Aviation to take a 33.3 percent stake in Darwin Airline – a Swiss regional carrier.

Beginning January 2014, according to a brand partnership deal with Etihad Airways, Darwin Airline has operated as Etihad Regional.

FOCA’s approval of the investment now allows Etihad and Darwin to fully benefit from the partnership, including using codeshares on each other’s flights.

“Because of the time it took to secure this deal, and due to the fierce competition during this period, Etihad Regional has been obliged to withdraw or reduce services on numerous routes. They were launched based on the fact that they would benefit from the support of traffic running between our global network and our Etihad Regional European network,” said James Hogan, President and CEO of Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways aircraft slide show:

Etihad Regional aircraft slide show:

Darwin Airline to drop four routes as it regroups

Darwin Airline (Etihad Regional) (Lugano) will drop routes from Zurich to Lugano and Linz and from Geneva to Toulouse and Nice. The four routes were unprofitable.

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) has restated its confidence in the regional carrier. Darwin is attempting to finalize its business relationship and investment by Etihad with the European regulatory authorities.

Copyright Photo: Paul Denton/AirlinersGallery.com. Darwin Airline SAAB 2000 HB-IZP (msn 031) in the Etihad Regional colors taxies at Geneva.

Etihad Regional aircraft slide show:

Video: The repainting of Darwin SAAB 2000 HB-IZP into Etihad Regional colors

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv6TCAFkunA&w=560&h=315%5D

A new airline alliance: Etihad Airways Partners is unveiled

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) today (October 8) unveiled Etihad Airways Partners, a new brand which brings together like-minded airlines to offer customers more choice through improved networks and schedules and enhanced frequent flyer benefits.

Initially, six airlines will participate in the new partnership – Airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Jet Airways, Darwin Airline (Etihad Regional), and Etihad Airways.

However, any airline can become an Etihad Airways Partner even if it is part of an existing alliance, such as Airberlin, which is a member of oneworld.

The key emphasis for Etihad Airways Partners is a strong commercial partnership and shared values.

James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said “We are broadening our business model to articulate and define a partner proposition for like-minded airlines which will result in synergies and efficiencies for participating airlines on the one side, and enhanced network choice, service and frequent flyer benefits for the consumer on the other.

“The Etihad Airways Partners logo is a seal of excellence and global cooperation. It will be displayed on aircraft and on branded materials by a group of airlines working together to connect travellers around the world, and increasingly to harmonise standards in the air and on the ground.”

Mr Hogan said Etihad Airways Partners differed from legacy airline alliances by offering benefits well beyond pure commercial cooperation.

“The potential for network alignment to maximise flight connectivity for passengers, together with a shared passion for superior service, are central to the ethos of the Etihad Airways Partner concept,” he said.

“Frequent flyers will benefit from the formation of Etihad Airways Partners as it will remove the complexity and confusion that exists within the global alliances.

“We’re aiming to deliver a consistent experience for frequent flyers when they travel, as well as a consistent framework for earning and using their miles.”

This will include standardised mileage and tier benefits across all partners, no blackout periods and priority services.

Etihad Airways Partners will also have access to economies of scale and operational synergies such as centers of excellence, shared sales teams in certain destinations, joint procurement of services and supplies, and shared pilot and cabin crew training at the Etihad Airways facilities in Abu Dhabi.

Above Photo: (Left to right): Maurizio Merlo, CEO Darwin Airline; Wolfgang Prock-Schauer, CEO airberlin; James Hogan, President and CEO Etihad Airways; Cramer Ball, CEO Jet Airways; Dane Kondić, CEO Air Serbia, Manoj Papa, CEO Air Seychelles; celebrate the launch of Etihad Airways Partners.

Etihad Airways:

Etihad Regional to add Brussels on March 29, 2015

Etihad Regional (Darwin Airline) (Lugano and Geneva) will add Brussels, Belgium on March 29 with two routes radiating to Dresden (three days a week) and Leipzig (four days a week). The new routes will be operated with ATR 72s.

Etihad Regional is the new European brand operated by Darwin Airline, the leading regional carrier of Switzerland. The airline is a full service carrier with a fleet of eight 50-seat SAAB 2000 turboprop aircrafts and four 68-seat ATRs 72-500s, operating to over 30 destinations in 9 European countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Austria, Serbia, Netherlands and UK. Besides serving a range of key secondary cities in Europe, Etihad Regional offers international destinations across the entire world through its future 33.3 per cent shareholding equity and codeshare partner, Etihad Airways.

Etihad Regional:

Current routes from Geneva:

Etihad Regional-Darwin Airline leases four ATR 72-500 aircraft to expand its fleet

Etihad Regional (operated by Darwin Airline) (Lugano and Geneva) has announced an agreement to lease four ATR 72-500 aircraft, which will see the carrier boost its regional fleet to 12 aircraft and support its rapidly expanding network.

All four aircraft will be delivered from March through June 2014. The airline currently operates a fleet of eight 50-seat SAAB 2000 turboprop aircraft.

Etihad Regional will configure each aircraft with 68 seats.

The lease of the aircraft was arranged by Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC), the world’s largest turboprop leasing company headquartered in Billund, Denmark.

Etihad Regional’s Maiden Flight Takes To The Skies – 23 Jan 2014 En

Darwin Airline adopted the new name and brand after Etihad Airways invested in the regional carrier with a one third share.

Etihad Regional’s first commercial flight, flight F7 154, took to the skies on January 23, 2014, with a newly branded 50-seat SAAB 2000 (HB-IZP) aircraft. The flight departed from the airline’s hub in Geneva, Switzerland and landed on schedule at Rome Fiumicino Airport in Italy.

The first Etihad Regional branded aircraft was unveiled at a launch event in Zurich on January 16, 2014, showcasing the airline’s new livery and brand new logo. All 10 aircraft in the Etihad Regional fleet will feature the new livery by the end of June 2014.

Copyright Photo: Rolf Wallner/AirlinersGallery.com. The pictured ATR 72-212A (ATR 72-500) HB-ACB (msn 662) was leased and delivered on March 13 and visited Zurich today in the new look.

Routes from Geneva (red lines are regular routes, blue are seasonal):

Etihad Regional SAAB 2000 HB-IZG nose wheel breaks on landing at Paris

Etihad Regional (Darwin Airline) (Lugano) SAAB 2000 HB-IZG was involved in a landing accident at Paris (Charles de Gaulle) on January 28. The aircraft was operating flight F7 250 from Leipzig with 16 passengers and three crew members. The nose gear was damaged on landing.

Read the full report from Express (with photo): CLICK HERE

Darwin Airline:

Etihad Airways to add a second daily flight to New York, Etihad Regional is unveiled and expands operations

Etihad Airways (Abu Dhabi) will double its flights between Abu Dhabi and New York City, introducing a second daily service from Saturday, March 1, 2014.

Flight EY 103 will depart Abu Dhabi International Airport at 1.45 am, arriving at New York’s John F Kennedy Airport at 7.45 am the same day, while the return flight, EY102, will leave New York at 11.35 am, arriving in Abu Dhabi at 9.20 am the next day.

The new flights will complement the airline’s current 10.30 am departure to New York, providing a choice of services for Abu Dhabi’s business, Government, expatriate and leisure travellers, while passengers travelling from New York to Abu Dhabi and beyond will now have the option of a late morning flight as well as the current 9.40 pm departure.

Initially, the new flights will be operated by Etihad Airways using two tri-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft leased from its strategic partner, India’s Jet Airways. From May 1, 2014, Jet Airways will operate these flights.

The second New York service will increase substantially the connections available via the Abu Dhabi Airport hub, with the schedule designed to link in both directions with Etihad Airways and partner airline flights between Abu Dhabi and more than 30 destinations in India, the Middle East, Central and South East Asia, Africa and island nations in the Indian Ocean region.

In other news, Etihad Regional, operated by Darwin Airline (Lugano and Geneva), unveiled yesterday (January 16) its first painted 50-seat SAAB 2000. All aircraft are expected to be repainted by the end of June. Etihad Airways is acquiring a 33 percent stake in the regional carrier.

Etihad Regional will expand to 34 destinations. Stuttgart will be added next month, followed by Berlin, Dusseldorf, London (City), Poznan, Tirana, Toulouse, Wroclaw, Zagreb and Zurich in April. Next will be Belgrade and Turin in May and finally Bordeaux, Graz, Linz, Marseille, Nantes and Verona in June.

With these additions Etihad Regional will feed the seven Etihad Airways gateways in Europe.

Top Copyright Photo: Greenwing/AirlinersGallery.com. Etihad Airways’ Boeing 777-3FX ER A6-ETC (msn 34599) in the special Abu Dhabi Grand Prix markings taxies at Dublin.