Blue Air
Blue Air was a Romanian low-cost airline that operated scheduled European passenger services from 2004 until its operations were suspended in 2022.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Blue Air was a Romanian low-cost airline founded by Nelu Iordache and launched in December 2004. It developed around a low-fare, point-to-point operating model, initially combining domestic and international services. Domestic flying was soon curtailed because demand was weak and the airline faced competition from TAROM and Romanian rail services, but the carrier retained an international focus and gradually built a network linking Romania with destinations across Europe. For much of its existence, Bucharest served as Blue Air’s principal operating center. The airline initially used Aurel Vlaicu International Airport, also known as Băneasa, but moved its main operations to Henri Coandă International Airport after Băneasa became unsuitable for regular commercial operations because of congestion, urban development, and sharply increased operating charges. Blue Air subsequently operated additional bases in Romania and abroad, including Bacău, Cluj, Turin, Liverpool, Alghero, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Larnaca, and Iași at different times. Its network included scheduled routes as well as seasonal and ad-hoc charter flying for other companies. The airline went through a major ownership and corporate restructuring in 2013. Its management announced that the business was for sale in April, and in May the operating activity was transferred to Blue Air–Airline Management Solution SRL after a group of Romanian shareholders acquired the business and provided a reported €30 million rescue package. Passenger volumes then expanded. Blue Air carried 1.35 million passengers in 2013, 1.5 million in 2014, and more than two million in 2015. It reported a net profit of €6 million in 2015 after a loss in the preceding year. In January 2016, the airline became a full member of the International Air Transport Association and had previously obtained IATA Operational Safety Audit certification. Expansion continued during the middle of the 2010s. Blue Air opened a Liverpool base in 2017 and introduced a specially liveried Boeing 737-800 to promote the city and its European network. It also established an Alghero base and operated from other European airports. By 2017, the airline reported more than five million passengers, a substantial increase over the prior year. In 2018, its legal form changed to a joint-stock company and its legal name became Blue Air Aviation SA. That year, a joint venture involving Blue Air and Moldovan investors won the privatization process for Air Moldova, although the planned transaction involved significant inherited obligations. The COVID-19 pandemic severely damaged Blue Air’s finances. In July 2020, the airline sought bankruptcy protection after a steep revenue decline and received a reported €65 million loan in state aid from the Romanian government. Blue Air also announced the retirement of its Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft and planned to rely on additional leased Boeing 737-800s. Before its collapse, the company’s network had reached 75 scheduled destinations in 21 countries as of September 2022. Blue Air suspended all operations on 6 September 2022 after Romanian authorities seized its bank accounts. Although the accounts were released the next day, the airline said it could not finance fuel and other services and extended the suspension. Its route network was removed from sale at the end of September, and its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft were subsequently reallocated by their lessor. The operating licence was suspended in November 2022, and the Romanian state took control of 75 percent of the company in December after the airline could not repay a state loan. Blue Air remained dormant and filed for insolvency on 21 March 2023. No verified evidence in the supplied material indicates a return to commercial operations.
History
Blue Air began operations in December 2004 after being founded by Nelu Iordache. It initially offered both domestic and international flights, but domestic services were discontinued relatively quickly because of limited sales and competition from TAROM and Romanian rail travel. The carrier therefore concentrated on international low-cost routes from Romania. Bucharest was the airline’s principal hub. Its early operations were based at Aurel Vlaicu International Airport, or Băneasa, but the airport became increasingly constrained by congestion and surrounding urban development. Higher charges made regular commercial operations impractical, leading Blue Air and other airlines to move to Henri Coandă International Airport, which became the carrier’s main hub. In April 2013, management announced that Blue Air was for sale. In May, four Romanian shareholders acquired the business, while flight operations were transferred to Blue Air–Airline Management Solution SRL, which provided a reported €30 million financial rescue. The restructuring preceded a period of growth. Passenger numbers rose from 1.35 million in 2013 to 1.5 million in 2014 and more than two million in 2015. The company reported a €6 million net profit in 2015, compared with a €400,000 loss in 2014. Blue Air expanded its route network and bases during the second half of the decade. It resumed domestic service in 2015 with Bucharest–Iași flights. In 2016, it announced 25 new routes and joined IATA as a full member in January. IATA Operational Safety Audit certification had been obtained in December 2015. In 2017, the airline opened a Liverpool base serving eight European destinations and introduced a Liverpool-themed Boeing 737-800 livery. It also developed operations at Alghero in Sardinia and maintained other bases in Romania and Europe. A proposed Czech subsidiary, Blue Air Moravia, was announced in 2018 but did not begin operations. The corporate structure changed in 2018 when the company became a joint-stock company and adopted the legal name Blue Air Aviation SA. A Blue Air-linked joint venture, Civil Aviation Group, also won the privatization process for Air Moldova. The proposed transaction involved the assumption of substantial Air Moldova liabilities and did not become a lasting expansion platform for Blue Air. The airline’s financial position deteriorated during the COVID-19 crisis. In July 2020 it filed for bankruptcy protection after a major revenue decline and received a reported €65 million Romanian state-aid loan. Blue Air announced the retirement of older Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft and a shift toward additional leased Boeing 737-800 aircraft. Even before its final suspension, the airline had reduced or closed several bases, including Liverpool, Alghero, Mihail Kogălniceanu, Larnaca, and Iași at different times. On 6 September 2022, Romanian authorities seized Blue Air’s accounts and the airline suspended every flight. The accounts were released the following day, but Blue Air said it lacked the cash to purchase fuel and other essential services. Flights remained suspended, the route network disappeared from sale, and the carrier’s Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft were reallocated to LOT Polish Airlines by their lessor. In November, the operating licence was suspended and the government announced that it would take a 75 percent shareholding because Blue Air could not repay state assistance. The takeover was completed in December, but the airline remained dormant. Blue Air filed for insolvency on 21 March 2023, marking the end of its practical operation as a scheduled airline.
- 2023
Insolvency filing
[1]Blue Air filed for insolvency on 21 March.
- 2022
Operations suspended
[1]Blue Air suspended all operations in September after its accounts were seized and subsequently remained dormant.
- 2022
Romanian state takeover
[1]The Romanian state took a 75 percent shareholding in December after the airline could not repay a state loan.
- 2020
Bankruptcy protection
[1]Blue Air sought bankruptcy protection after pandemic-related revenue losses and received reported state aid.
- 2018
Corporate form changes
[1]The company became a joint-stock company and adopted the legal name Blue Air Aviation SA.
- 2017
Liverpool base opens
[1]The airline opened a base at Liverpool John Lennon Airport and served eight European destinations from it.
- 2016
IATA membership
[1]Blue Air became a full member of IATA in January.
- 2015
Domestic service resumes
[1]Blue Air resumed domestic flights with a Bucharest–Iași route and exceeded two million passengers during the year.
- 2013
Ownership and operating-company restructuring
[1]After being offered for sale, the airline was acquired by four Romanian shareholders and its flight operations were transferred to Blue Air–Airline Management Solution SRL.
- 2004
Operations begin
[1]Blue Air began operating scheduled domestic and international flights in December.
Products and positioning
Low-cost European airline focused on affordable point-to-point passenger travel.
Commercial aviation · 2004
Scheduled passenger flights
Blue Air’s core offering was scheduled low-cost air travel linking Romanian airports with destinations throughout Europe. The airline emphasized point-to-point routes and operated from Bucharest and several additional bases during different phases of its history. By September 2022, before the suspension of operations, its published network covered 75 scheduled destinations in 21 countries.
Charter aviation
Seasonal and ad-hoc charter flights
Alongside its scheduled network, Blue Air operated seasonal and ad-hoc charter flights on behalf of other companies. These services supplemented the airline’s regular low-fare routes and allowed aircraft to be used for demand that varied by season or contract.
Marketing campaigns
- 2017Liverpool promotional livery
United Kingdom · Europe
To support its new Liverpool base, Blue Air applied a Liverpool-themed livery to Boeing 737-800 aircraft YR-BMH. The design promoted Liverpool as a welcoming and music-oriented city while the aircraft operated across the European network.
Outcome. The aircraft served as a visible promotional asset for the Liverpool base; the supplied material does not quantify its marketing effect.
Brand decisions
2022
Full suspension of operationsStrategyBackground
Romanian authorities seized Blue Air’s accounts, leaving the airline unable to fund fuel and other essential services even after the accounts were released.
Action taken
Blue Air suspended all flights on 6 September, later removed its route network from sale, and did not resume commercial operations.
Aftermath
The airline’s licence was suspended, its aircraft were reduced or reallocated, and the company was subsequently taken into state control and filed for insolvency.
2020
Pandemic restructuring and fleet renewalStrategyBackground
The COVID-19 pandemic caused a sharp decline in revenue and pushed Blue Air into bankruptcy protection.
Action taken
The airline sought bankruptcy protection, received reported Romanian state aid, and announced the retirement of Boeing 737-300 and 737-500 aircraft in favor of additional leased Boeing 737-800s.
Aftermath
The airline continued operating for a time but later suspended all flights in 2022.
Romanian state-aid loan. €65 million (2020)
2013
Transfer of flight operations after sale processM&ABackground
Blue Air management placed the airline on the market while the existing business required financial support.
Action taken
Four Romanian shareholders acquired the business, and flight operations were transferred to Blue Air–Airline Management Solution SRL with reported financing of €30 million.
Aftermath
The restructuring preceded renewed passenger growth and later expansion of the route network.
Rescue financing. €30 million (2013)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Blueair launches DustMagnet air purifier[2]
Blueair launched its DustMagnet air purifier, which is available in Qatar through local retail outlets and hypermarkets.
- Unconfirmed
Blue Air announced three new routes from Milan Linate[3]
Blue Air announced plans to introduce routes from Milan Linate to Catania, Barcelona and Paris Charles de Gaulle starting August 16, 2021.
Reported
Blue Air offers 10% discount on Cluj flights[4]
For March 8, Blue Air ran the Cluj Flies with Blue Air campaign, offering a 10% discount on flights to and from Cluj Napoca for all destinations included in the summer schedule.
Reported
Blueair announces Blue Pure Fan and Blue Pure 411+[5]
Blueair announced the rollout of the Blue Pure Fan and Blue Pure 411+ air purifier, two new products designed with allergy sufferers in mind. The Blue Pure Fan was available for purchase in the U.S. at the time of the announcement; the Blue Pure 411+ was planned to become available through additional retail channels later that summer.
- Unconfirmed
Blue Air launches eight new flight routes[6]
Blue Air is launching eight new flight routes from airports in Bucharest, Iasi and Bacau.
Reported
Blueair launches CLEAN AIR FOR CHILDREN programme in Japan[7]
Blueair launched its CLEAN AIR FOR CHILDREN programme in Japan by donating 100 air purifiers to Tokyo nursery schools. The units were to be placed in 20 nursery schools in Shibuya.
Sources7 sources
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