Clickair

Clickair
IATA ICAO Callsign
XG CLI CLICKJET
Founded 2006 (as Catair)
Commenced operations 1 October 2006
Ceased operations 15 July 2009 (merged with Vueling)
Operating bases
Fleet size 26
Destinations 41
Company slogan Vola intel·ligent
English: Fly smart
Parent company Iberia
Headquarters El Prat de Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain
Key people Alex Cruz (CEO)
Carlos Losada (President)
Website clickair.com

Clickair was a low-cost airline that was based in the Parc de Negocis Mas Blau in El Prat de Llobregat, near Barcelona, Spain.[1][2] Clickair flew to nearly 40 destinations in Europe. The airline's main base was Barcelona–El Prat Airport with further bases at Málaga, Seville and Valencia.[3] Clickair merged into Vueling on 15 July 2009.

History

Early years

The company was first called Catair, derived from CAT (CATalonia) and AIR, but changed its name to Clickair just before starting operations. Clickair positioned itself as a low-cost airline and offered a buy on board programme for food, drinks, and other goods.[4]

The airline started operations on 1 October 2006 with three Airbus A320 aircraft operating five routes from its Barcelona hub.[5] The company was founded from initial capital investment from Cobra, Iberia, Iberostar, Nefinsa and Quercus Equity (Group Agrolimen), each with a 20% share, with Iberia setting up the airline.[6] Although Iberia held a 20% stake in the airline, it controlled 80% of its economic rights. The company has plans for the operation of 30 Airbus A320s on 70 routes, carrying 10 million passengers a year by the end of 2008.[3] Clickair's IATA code, XG was inherited from Gestair Cargo's retired passenger airline Regional Líneas Aéreas.

Merger with Vueling

In June 2008, Clickair and rival Spanish low cost airline Vueling announced their intention to merge.[7] The merger was agreed because they wanted to make a single carrier better equipped to take out high fuel costs and fees, and both airlines were losing a lot of money. The merger would cause Clickair to cease operations because Vueling was to be the name of the new airline. The airline was to be based in Barcelona where both of the low cost airlines were based and were to keep its original hubs. Boss of Clickair Alex Cruz was also to be the chief executive of the airline.[8]

5 aircraft were planned to be introduced in 2008, however the airline scaled back its expansion plans and would add only one aircraft to the fleet during the year.[9]

On 15 July 2009 the merger of Vueling and Clickair was completed.[10] The new merged airline operates under the Vueling brand, with Clickair ceasing their operations. Since the merger, Vueling has become the second largest Spanish carrier flying 8.2 million passengers in 2009, to almost 50 destinations. After ceasing operations, 20 of the 26 aircraft went to Vueling. The rest of the fleet went to Astraeus Airlines, Vertir Airlines and Ural Airlines, with two being stored.

Destinations

Main article: Clickair destinations

Fleet

Clickair Airbus A320-200

The Clickair fleet consisted of the following aircraft at 21 March 2009 with an average age of 10.2 years:[11][12]

Clickair Fleet
Aircraft Total Passengers
Airbus A320-200 26 180

References

  1. ↑ "Contact." Clickair. 17 November 2006. Retrieved on 13 September 2011. "Central office: CLICKAIR S.A. C/ Solsones, 2 Esc.B 3º 1ª Parc de Negocis MAS BLAU Prat de Llobregat 08820 Barcelona (Spain)"
  2. ↑ "Article: clickair on track to carry 4.5 million passengers by year end.(Brief article)." Airline Industry Information. 25 September 2007. Retrieved on 30 March 2009.
  3. 1 2 "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-04-03. p. 67.
  4. ↑ "Clickbasics." Clickair. Retrieved on 20 January 2009.
  5. ↑ Flight International, 3–9 October 2006
  6. ↑ Clickair website
  7. ↑ Vueling To Merge With Clickair
  8. ↑ Merger Information
  9. ↑ Spain's Clickair scales back growth plans - Reuters
  10. ↑ Vueling new airline name to UK. TravelMole. Phil Davies.
  11. ↑ Clickair Fleet
  12. ↑ Clickair Fleet Age

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