Cobalt Air
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| Founded | 2015 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commenced operations | 7 July 2016 | ||||||
| Operating bases | Larnaca International Airport | ||||||
| Fleet size | 6 | ||||||
| Destinations | 21[3] | ||||||
| Key people | Andrew Madar, CEO | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
Cobalt Air or simply Cobalt, is a Cypriot airline based at Larnaca International Airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. The airline operated its first commercial flight on 7 July 2016 from Larnaca to Athens. It is the second Cypriot airline (after Tus Airways) to be established since the dissolution of Cyprus Airways in 2015.[4] As of June 2017, it is the second largest airline at Larnaca International Airport with 8.2% of weekly capacity after Aegean, and is predicted to become the largest airline by Summer 2018 following expansion and the subsequent reduction by Aegean at Larnaca.[5]
History
On 14 June 2016, the airline's website began selling tickets from Larnaca to Dublin, Athens, Heraklion, Thessaloniki, London and Manchester.[6]
The first Airbus A320 aircraft arrived in April 2016 and the airline was granted an air operator's certificate (AOC) on 18 May 2016 following a test flight between Larnaca and Heraklion. According to chairman Gregory Diacou, Cobalt planned to receive another three aircraft of the same type by the end of June 2016.[7]
On 4 March 2017, it was announced by the transport minister of Cyprus that Cobalt is to operate the route from Paphos to Athens filling in the void left by Ryanair who announced they were to end operating the route in late March, which is when Cobalt began operating the route with flights three times a week.[8]
In May 2017, the airline announced that it would begin adding 'economy comfort seats' on board its 6 aircraft on rows 1-5, with 2 aircraft already fitted with the seats. They are currently only sold at an additional fee at the airport, but they will soon be sold as business class seats in a 2x2 layout with other added benefits being announced shortly. It was also announced that a frequent flyer program will soon be implemented.[5]
In August 2017, the airline announced plans to fit its fleet with onboard Wi-Fi allowing passengers to download content onto their personal electronic devices. The development is part of a move away from the airline’s original low-cost approach to more of a full-service model.[9]
Destinations
As of October 2017, Cobalt Air flies to 20 destinations in 12 countries, all in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.
The airline's CEO, Andrew Madar, stated that an aircraft could potentially be based at Paphos International Airport from Winter 2017/18, operating flights to Brussels, Dublin, London Stansted and Birmingham; however nothing has yet been officially announced.[10]
In August 2017, the airline announced the launch of two new routes, to London Gatwick and Frankfurt. The airline also announced its intention to launch operations to Moscow by the end of the year - it initially intended to launch the service to Moscow in the summer of 2017, but failed to complete the formalities on time. The airline also stated their interested in operating to Saint Petersburg in the near future.[11]
Fleet
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As of 30 June 2017, the Cobalt fleet consists of the following aircraft:[12][13][14][15]
| Aircraft | In Service | Orders | Passengers | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | Y | Total | ||||
| Airbus A319-100 | 2 | — | — | 144 | 144 | |
| Airbus A320-200 | 2 | — | 20 | 120 | 140[16] | |
| 1 | 12 | 144 | 156[16] | |||
| 1 | — | 174 | 174 | |||
| Total | 6 | — | ||||
Fleet development
The airline plans to acquire two Airbus A330-200 aircraft to start long haul operations to China, South Africa and the US by September 2018, with the deal to acquire the aircraft expected to be finalised by August 2017.[5]
References
- ^ "IATA - Airline and Airport Code Search". iata.org. Retrieved 13 April 2015.
- ^ FAA ICAO Aircraft Company/Telephony/Three−Letter Designator and U.S. Special Telephony/Call Signs https://www.faa.gov/documentLibrary/media/Order/7340.2G_Bsc_dtd_1-5-17.pdf
- ^ "Destinations". www.cobalt.aero. Retrieved 11 January 2017.
- ^ Leonidou, John (2016-03-02). "First Cobalt Air flights in June". Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c Ford, Johnathan (2017-06-15). "Cobalt, Cyprus' leading airline, prepares to go long-haul". anna.aero. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ^ "Cobalt takes to the skies from Cyprus". anna.aero. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ^ "COBALT officially Cyprus' new airline". InCyprus. 2016-05-18. Archived from the original on 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ "Cobalt to fill Ryanair's Paphos-Athens gap". cyprus-mail.com. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
- ^ "Cobalt Air To Install Onboard Wi-Fi". aviationweek.com. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ^ "INTERVIEW: Cobalt connecting Cyprus with the world". Cyprus Traveller. 2017-06-07. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
- ^ "Cypriot Cobalt Air to lauch flights to Moscow before year-end". www.rusaviainsider.com. 29 August 2017.
- ^ Cyprus Aircraft Register As At 30 June 2017, page 5
- ^ "Cobalt says fourth Airbus 320 added to fleet". cyprusbusinessmail.com. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 17 February 2017.
- ^ "Πέμπτο αεροσκάφος για την Cobalt". inbusinessnews.com (in Greek). 27 March 2017. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
- ^ "Cobalt adds sixth aircraft to fleet". cyprus-mail.com. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
- ^ a b "Fees and charges". cobalt.aero. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
- Cyprus Aircraft Register As At 30 June 2017, retrieved 14 July 2017 via "Cyprus Aircraft Register". mcw.gov.cy. Nicosia, Cyprus: Republic of Cyprus Department of Civil Aviation. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 14 July 2017.
