Regional airline in Spain based in Valencia
Air Nostrum, legally incorporated as Air Nostrum Líneas Aéreas del Mediterráneo, S.A., is a Spanish regional airline based in Valencia.[5]
It currently operates as a franchisee of Iberia as Iberia Regional and an affiliate member of the Oneworld airline alliance. Air Nostrum operates 91 domestic and international routes to 51 destinations, and charter flights. Its main base is Valencia Airport, with hubs at Barcelona Airport and Madrid-Barajas Airport.[6]
Limited operations are also carried out on behalf of Brussels Airlines, replacing related wet-lease specialist airline CityJet, having begun in late 2018.
Air Nostrum is also a part owner of Iryo, a Spanish high-speed rail service which began operating in November 2022.[7]
History
Air Nostrum
ATR 72-600 in the former livery, with special titles celebrating it as the 1000th aircraft built by ATR
The airline was established on 23 May 1994 and started operations on 15 December.[8]
Air Nostrum used to offer a comprehensive meal service on all scheduled flights. In early 2008, the airline eliminated its 'regional business class' cabin. The cabin is now split into separate business and economy sections along the lines of other major airlines. Economy passengers can purchase drinks and snacks from an onboard menu.[9]
On February 7, 2012, Air Nostrum presented an ERE (a legal form of workforce reduction and redundancies) that will affect its 1,800 workers for two years, due to the increase in fuel prices and the drop in income. It is estimated that during the two years, 15 Bombardier CRJ200 aircraft will be grounded and most of its routes will be abandoned at a loss.[10]
On March 31, 2014, Air Nostrum announced the entry into the company's capital of a group of Valencian businessmen with the participation of the then CEO of the company, Carlos Bertomeu, as well as Antonio Pellicer and José Remohí, owners of the IVI, with an estimated capital of 25 million euros, divided between capital and debt.[11]
In September 2017, Air Nostrum filed an application to operate high speed rail services from Madrid Atocha to Gare de Montpellier-Saint-Roch in Southern France from 5 October 2018 with AVE Class 100 trains leased from Renfe Operadora.[12]
On 17 July 2018, Air Nostrum and CityJet of Ireland announced they would merge to form the largest regional airline in Europe, however will remain as separate brands.[13]
In June 2022, it was announced that Air Nostrum had placed a reservation on ten Hybrid Air Vehicles Airlander 10 airships. Introduction to service is scheduled for 2026.[14]
Fleet
As of December 2022, the Air Nostrum fleet consists of the following aircraft:[2]
€500 million (2013)[4]
