Blue Panorama Airlines is a private airline company from Italy with Rome Fiumicino as its base airport . The geography of flights includes most of the popular tourist destinations. Not so long ago, the airline began to work in the Russian market. What is the opinion of Russian travelers about it?
About company
The Italian company Blue Panorama Airlines (pronounced "Blue Panorama Airlines") appeared on the passenger transportation market in 1998. Now it is one of the leading companies in the European region, offering quality service. Fiumicino and Malpensa are the main air transport hubs, which also serve other major Italian airlines.
The priorities of the airline are the high quality of on-board service, safety and reliability, which are organically combined with a unique Italian style. The crew uniform and interiors of the airliners, which were developed by the famous Italian designer M. Fontana, are made in strict white and blue colors. On-board meals on Blue Panorama Airlines flights deserve special attention. It is made exclusively from fresh and natural products. Also, passengers are offered a large selection of wines in flight.
In 2002, the airline became a member of the IATA international organization. Since 2005, the company entered the low-cost airline market with its subsidiary Blue Express. In 2012, the management of the organization decided to restructure the activities, so a bankruptcy petition was filed. However, there was only a replacement of the permanent license with a temporary one, and soon the carrier began to work in the usual mode.
Since 2013, the airline represented by Blue Express has also appeared on the Russian market and began to operate flights from the capital's Domodedovo and St. Petersburg's Pulkovo.
Air park
The average life of the aircraft in the company is no more than 18 years.
The following types of airliners are listed in the Blue Panorama Airlines fleet:
- Boeing 737-300 - 3 aircraft with 148 seats in the passenger compartment with one service class;
- Boeing 737-400 - 5 aircraft with 168 seats for air passengers with one service class;
- Boeing 757-200 - 2 aircraft with 196 seats for air passengers with two classes of service;
- Boeing 767-300 - 4 aircraft with a carrying capacity of 234 to 259 passengers with two classes of service;
- Piaggio Avanti R-180 - 2 business jets for 7 and 8 passenger seats.
The airline plans to expand its fleet. Soon it will be replenished with 4 Boeing 787s and 8 Russian SSJ-100-95 aircraft (by prior agreement).
Directions
The company's activity is the implementation of regular and seasonal transportation of air passengers. The geography of routes includes 39 destinations in the directions:
- Asia - Maldives , Seychelles ;
- Africa - Kenya, Madagascar, Egypt, Zanzibar;
- Europe - France, Greece, Spain, Russia;
- Caribbean countries - Cuba, Dominican Republic, Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua, Antilles, Jamaica.
Check-in, boarding flights, classes of service
Blue Panorama Airlines offers air passengers two types of services during the flight - economy class and “Blue” class, which is an analogue of the business class. Passengers are accommodated in high-chairs and have the opportunity to use the entertainment system during the flight. They are also offered a range of dishes to choose from and a large list of the best Italian wines.
You can register for airline flights at the airport. Check-in starts 2 hours before the scheduled departure time, and ends 35 minutes for flights in Italy, 45 minutes for international flights. Boarding ends 25 minutes before the departure of the aircraft. For transatlantic flights, the registration of passengers and baggage begins 3 hours before and ends 1.5 hours before the scheduled departure time. Passengers are requested to register on the airline’s official website.
Blue Panorama Airlines Travel Reviews
Among the reviews about the company there are both negative and positive.
Passengers highlight the following positive points:
- timely notification of flight cancellations and schedule changes;
- punctuality;
- the friendliness of the staff;
- decent service.
Among the negative aspects of the company’s work are:
- problems with baggage claim at Italian airports;
- the relatively high cost of airline tickets for low-cost airlines;
- old airplanes;
- collection of baggage;
- lack of food on low-cost flights;
- narrow space between passenger seats.
The foreign air carrier, which appeared relatively recently on the Russian market, is Blue Panorama Airlines. Reviews about it can be found different and often, even contradictory. Flights from Russia are operated by a subsidiary of Blue Express. In general, the price of air tickets corresponds to the quality of service on board. The company has a relatively developed route network consisting of short-, medium- and long-haul routes.