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Blue1

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Blue1
File:Blue1 logo.svg
IATA ICAO Call sign
KF BLF BLUEFIN
Founded1987
HubsHelsinki-Vantaa Airport
Focus citiesStockholm-Arlanda Airport
Frequent-flyer programEuroBonus
AllianceStar Alliance
Fleet size13 (+8 orders)
Destinations27
Parent companySAS AB (Finland)
HeadquartersVantaa, Finland
Key peopleStefan Wentjärvi (CEO)
Mats Jansson (CEO SAS Group)
Websitewww.blue1.fi

Blue1 Oy is a Finnish airline owned by SAS Group and a full member of Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, with a hub at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Blue1 flies to almost 30 destinations in Finland, Scandinavia and rest of Europe and is in terms of passengers the second-largest airline in Finland. Blue1 carried over 1,4 million passengers in 2009.[1]

Blue1 offers two service classes, Economy and a completely new travel class Blue1 Premium for business travel, featuring all business class services at a significantly lower fare.

History

The airline was established in 1987 and started operations in 1988 as Air Botnia. The first destination was Oulu, later came Kuopio, Rovaniemi and Vaasa. It was purchased by SAS Group in January 1998.

Blue1 became the new company name in January 2004 and the airline joined Star Alliance as the first regional member on November 3 the same year.

In 2005 Blue1 became the second largest Finnish airline with more than 100 daily flights and biggest operator between Finland and Scandinavia.

In 2006 Blue1 started 10 new nonstop routes to Europe increasing its total capacity by more than 50%.

In 2008 Blue1 moved its London operations from Stansted to Heathrow Airport, and undertook strong expansion on domestic business routes. In 2009 new routes to Lapland, including Paris-Kittilä were opened for the winter season and routes to Biarritz, Dubrovnik and Split for summer travel.

January 1, 2010 Blue1 became a full member of Star Alliance.

Blue1 was the first network airline in Northern Europe to be granted ISO 14001 environmental certificate.[2]

Codeshare agreements

Blue1 has codeshare agreements with the following Star Alliance airlines as of October 2010.

Destinations

McDonnell Douglas MD-90
Avro RJ85 parked at Turku

Blue1 serves the following destinations (as of December 2010):

Belgium
Croatia
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Italy
Netherlands
Norway
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
Further information: SAS Group destinations

Fleet

Current fleet

As of November 2010, the Blue1 fleet consists of the following aircraft with an average age of 10.6 years:[4]

-
Blue1 Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Passengers
(Extra/Economy) 		Notes
Avro RJ85 7 0 84 (0/84)
95 (0/95) 		To be replaced by 717.
Boeing 717 4 8 120 (0/120)
McDonnell Douglas MD-90 0 0 166 (0/166) one aircraft painted in Star Alliance livery.
To be replaced by 717.
Total: 11 8

The company is going to replace its current fleet consisting of Avro RJ85 and MD-90 planes with second-hand Boeing 717s, more adapted to Finnish regional traffic.[5], the first of which was delivered in August 2010. Initially, the MD-90s will be phased out, with the Avro RJ85s followings in due corse.[6] On 28 May, 2010, the company has announced it intends to double the size of its fleet over "the next couple of years".[7]

Retired fleet

Blue1 Retired Fleet
Aircraft Type Years Active
Avro RJ100 2001–2009
Saab 2000 2001–2006
Fokker F28 1998–2001
Saab 340 1998–2001
Jetstream 31 1993–1998
Embraer EMB-110 Bandeirante 1987–1993
Cessna 402 1987–1988

Onboard services

  • Economy Class: Sandwiches and drinks are available for purchase from "Cafe1". On short flights to Sweden; cinnamon roll and coffee is served free.
  • Economy Extra: Fast-track security at some European airports, and lounge access for passengers travelling in higher booking classes. A three-course cold meal or breakfast is served.

References

  1. ^ http://www.blue1.com/en/fi/About-us/Press-room/Press-releases/14-million-passengers--flew-with-Blue1-in-2009/
  2. ^ Flight International 27 March 2007
  3. ^ http://www.blue1.com/en/fi/About-us/Press-room/Press-releases/Blue1-and-Spanair-to-start-code-share-cooperation-between-Spain-and-Finland/
  4. ^ Blue1 fleet list at planespotters.net
  5. ^ http://www.blue1.com/fi/fi/Blue1/Lehdisto/tiedotteet/Blue1-kaksinkertaistaa-lentolaivueensa-Boeing-717-matkustajakoneilla/
  6. ^ http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2010/05/28/342531/pictures-blue1-adopts-new-livery-as-it-opts-for-717s.html
  7. ^ http://www.helsinki-vantaa.fi/hel_pressrelease?id=2830624

Media related to Blue1 at Wikimedia Commons

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