ISS - Meridiana Fly, Meridiana

[Hirohitoswaifu]

Topic Title: ICAO Code
ISS

Airline Name
Meridiana Fly, Meridiana

Country of Origin
Italy

Aircraft Types Used (from those available in WoA)
Meridiana,

A319 (A319-100),

A320 (A320-200),

B738 (737-800),

B762 (767-200),

B763 (767-300),

Other models; BAE 146-200 (RJ85), DC-9-50, MD-82, MD-83, 737-300, 737-700.

Meridiana Fly,

A320 (A320-200),

Why should this airline be added?
This airline was one of the big low cost, charter services in Italy, repeatedly changing its name over the years. Meridiana was founded in 1991 from its predecessor Alisarda which was founded in 1963, and lasted until 2018 when it rebranded into Air Italy up till 2020 when it ended operations due to the pandemic. Air Italy was the name of their charter airline they purchased in 2005. This was an important airline for Italy and for flights between cities that weren’t picked up by the main airlines, providing a lifeline for communities as well as allowing tourists to access unseen bits of Italy. I’ve included all 3 here as they were all the same airline operating under the same ICAO code.

[dh16dh]

I think the Meridiana and Meridiana Fly together are probably fine, though I reckon that Air Italy should be separated. The Air Italy entity that was founded in 2005 was a separate airline that coexisted alongside Meridiana. The two didn’t merge until 2013 and the pre-2018 entity I would argue is quite different to the post-2018 entity.

You could argue that the post-2018 liveries are a continuation of the Meridiana airline since it was a continuation of the Meridiana AOC, but all the liveries featuring the Italian tricolor are a distinct airline (i.e. pre-2018).

[Hirohitoswaifu]

I can split them leaving this as Meridiana/Fly/Air Italy post 2018 and doing Air Italy pre 2018 separate. I did it as the ICAO code was the same but I agree they are more distinct than the other airlines.

[dh16dh]

I think splitting off Air Italy post 2018 would also be worth doing. Yes they have the same IATA/ICAO codes but those can be bought and doesn’t necessarily indicate continuity. For all intents and purposes, Air Italy 2018 was meant to be a restart and a move away from the existing brands also thanks to the Qatar Airways investment. I think its more similar to how ITA Airways is a distinct entity from Alitalia despite basically being Alitalia with a new name on the front door.

[Hirohitoswaifu]

Edited this one, got Air Italy’s ready to go.