Translate
Italy's sunshine airline connecting the Mediterranean.
Founded
1963
Headquarters
Olbia, Italy
Meridiana was an Italian private airline founded in 1963 as Alisarda, originally serving Sardinia and later expanding to a broader network of Italian domestic and international routes. It was rebranded as Meridiana in 1991 and grew to become one of Italy's largest independent carriers, offering scheduled and charter services across Europe, Africa, and beyond.
The airline underwent significant changes in 2011 when Air Italy merged with Meridiana, and the combined entity operated under the Meridiana brand for several years. It was later rebranded as Meridiana fly and eventually transitioned to the Air Italy brand in 2018 following investment from Qatar Airways.
Meridiana was known for its focus on leisure travel, particularly serving tourist destinations in Sardinia, Sicily, and other Mediterranean locations. The airline ultimately ceased operations under the Air Italy name in February 2020 after the carrier was placed into liquidation.
Hubs & network
Meridiana primarily operated from Olbia Costa Smeralda Airport and Catania Fontanarossa Airport, with additional operations at Rome Fiumicino and Milan Malpensa.
Fleet
Meridiana operated a fleet that included Boeing 737s, Boeing 767s, and Airbus A320-family aircraft during various periods of its history.
Notable facts
- ›Originally founded as Alisarda in 1963 to serve Sardinia's Costa Smeralda resort area.
- ›Rebranded from Alisarda to Meridiana in 1991.
- ›Air Italy merged with Meridiana in 2011, creating a combined carrier that retained the Meridiana name.
- ›Qatar Airways acquired a 49% stake in the airline in 2017, leading to rebranding as Air Italy in 2018.
- ›The airline ceased all operations in February 2020 after being placed into liquidation.
This profile is provided for general information only. Contact details may be inaccurate or outdated — always verify with the airline's official website before acting on them.
