IZair

IZair, formally known as İzmir Hava Yolları, was a Turkish airline headquartered at Adnan Menderes Airport in İzmir. It was established in 2005 by a group of businesspeople from İzmir and began commercial operations on 14 June 2006. The airline was created as a regional carrier associated with İzmir, Turkey’s major Aegean city and an important tourism and transportation center. IZair’s business was centered on passenger air transportation. Its aircraft and operations were closely linked with Pegasus Airlines, and the airline’s services were increasingly integrated into Pegasus’s commercial network. From 2012, IZair flights were marketed under the Air Berlin Turkey brand, a cooperation involving Air Berlin and Pegasus Airlines. This arrangement placed IZair within a broader partnership structure rather than presenting it solely as an independent local carrier. The cooperation ended in 2013, and the Air Berlin Turkey branding was discontinued. The airline’s fleet included Airbus A319-100 aircraft. Its remaining Airbus A319 was returned to its lessor on 29 February 2012, an event that reflected the reduction of IZair’s independent operating footprint. After the end of the Air Berlin Turkey arrangement, IZair continued to be associated with Pegasus Airlines, with IZair aircraft being operated for Pegasus. This relationship ultimately led to the disappearance of IZair as a separate airline brand. In November 2018, plans were announced to dissolve IZair and merge it into Pegasus Airlines by the end of that year. The consolidation represented the final stage of a long-running shift from a distinct İzmir-based airline identity toward centralized operations under Pegasus. IZair is therefore best understood as a defunct Turkish airline brand whose history is closely connected to Pegasus Airlines and the Air Berlin partnership, rather than as a currently operating independent carrier. The airline also appeared in an operational incident involving Pegasus Airlines Flight 361 on 10 March 2010. The Airbus A319 operating the ferry flight, operated by IZair, made an emergency landing at Frankfurt Airport after a malfunction involving its nose landing gear. The aircraft landed safely, although both nose-gear tires burst, temporarily affecting airport runway operations. No fatal outcome is reported in the available reference material.

IZair was founded in 2005 under the name İzmir Hava Yolları by a group of businessmen from İzmir. Its creation reflected an effort to establish an airline connected to İzmir and the surrounding Aegean region. The company began operating flights on 14 June 2006, offering passenger air transportation from its base at Adnan Menderes Airport. During its operating life, IZair’s identity became increasingly connected with Pegasus Airlines. Rather than developing a fully independent commercial system, the airline participated in arrangements in which its aircraft and flights were linked to Pegasus’s network. In 2012, all IZair flights were marketed under the Air Berlin Turkey brand, created through cooperation between Air Berlin and Pegasus Airlines. This gave the airline access to a broader cross-border marketing structure while placing its services within a wider low-cost and leisure-airline framework. The partnership was discontinued in 2013, and the Air Berlin Turkey brand was abandoned. IZair nevertheless remained operationally associated with Pegasus. Its fleet included Airbus A319-100 aircraft, and by February 2020 the aircraft associated with IZair were being operated for Pegasus Airlines. The last remaining Airbus A319-100 was returned to its lessor on 29 February 2012, indicating that IZair’s stand-alone fleet had already been substantially reduced. IZair was involved in an aviation incident on 10 March 2010 when Pegasus Airlines Flight 361, an Airbus A319 operated by IZair on a ferry flight, made an emergency landing at Frankfurt Airport after a malfunction in the nose landing gear. The landing was completed safely, although both front nose-gear tires burst. Frankfurt’s runway 07R/25L was closed for approximately three hours while the aircraft was recovered, and airport traffic returned to normal later that day. The available reference does not identify the event as a fatal accident. In November 2018, the planned dissolution of IZair and its merger into Pegasus Airlines were announced, with completion expected by the end of 2018. This marked the conclusion of the brand’s development from a locally based İzmir airline into an operation effectively integrated with a larger Turkish carrier. IZair is now treated as a defunct airline brand. Its historical significance lies primarily in its role as an İzmir-based carrier, its relationship with Pegasus Airlines, and its brief participation in the Air Berlin Turkey marketing arrangement.

• 2018

  Dissolution and merger announced

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  Plans are announced to dissolve IZair and merge it into Pegasus Airlines by the end of 2018.

• 2013

  Air Berlin Turkey brand is abandoned

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  The Air Berlin–Pegasus cooperation ends and the Air Berlin Turkey brand is discontinued.

• 2012

  Air Berlin Turkey marketing begins

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  IZair flights begin to be marketed under the Air Berlin Turkey brand through cooperation between Air Berlin and Pegasus Airlines.

• 2012

  Final Airbus A319 returned

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  The last remaining IZair Airbus A319-100 is returned to its lessor on 29 February.

• 2010

  Emergency landing at Frankfurt

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  An IZair-operated Airbus A319 performing Pegasus Airlines Flight 361 makes an emergency landing at Frankfurt after a nose-gear malfunction.

• 2006

  Commercial operations begin

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  IZair begins operating flights on 14 June 2006.

• 2005

  IZair is established

  [1]IZairen.wikipedia.org

  İzmir Hava Yolları, later known as IZair, is established by a group of businesspeople from İzmir.

A regional Turkish passenger airline associated with İzmir and later integrated into Pegasus Airlines’ low-cost and leisure-oriented operating network.

• Passenger air transportation · 2006

  Scheduled passenger flights

  IZair’s core offering was passenger air transportation from its İzmir base. The airline operated Airbus narrow-body aircraft and served within a network that became closely linked to Pegasus Airlines. Its services were subsequently marketed through partner arrangements, including the Air Berlin Turkey brand.

• Partner-marketed airline services · 2012

  Air Berlin Turkey-branded services

  From 2012, IZair flights were marketed under the Air Berlin Turkey name as part of a cooperation between Air Berlin and Pegasus Airlines. The arrangement extended beyond IZair’s standalone identity, but the brand was discontinued when the cooperation ended in 2013.

• 2018

  Dissolution and integration into Pegasus AirlinesM&A

  Background

  IZair’s operations and fleet had become closely connected with Pegasus Airlines, reducing the practical distinction between the two businesses.

  Action taken

  The dissolution of IZair and its merger into Pegasus Airlines were announced for completion by the end of 2018.

  Aftermath

  IZair ceased to exist as a separate airline brand.

  Source

• 2012

  Adoption of Air Berlin Turkey marketingStrategy

  Background

  IZair was operating in close association with Pegasus Airlines, which entered a cooperation with Air Berlin.

  Action taken

  All IZair flights were marketed under the Air Berlin Turkey brand beginning in 2012.

  Aftermath

  The cooperation ended in 2013 and the Air Berlin Turkey brand was abandoned.

  Source

1. 1IZairen.wikipedia.org