Spanair
The Spanish airline Spanair S.A. originally operated as an international charter, flying tourists from approximately 100 European airports to Spain. The airline continued to develop their company by establishing routes between the Spanish peninsula and the Balearic and Canary Islands. Spanair added long-distance routes to their operations in 1991.1
On August 20, 2008, a Spanair plane carrying nearly 170 passengers and crew members skidded off a runway in Madrid, Spain. At least 150 people were reportedly killed. On the day of the Spanair disaster, reports broke that the airline's pilots were threatening a strike.2 3
Fast Facts
- Headquarters: Palma de Mallorca, Spain1
- Founded December 19861
- 1988: Started operatations
- Owned by the SAS Group (Scandinavian Airlines)1
- Is a member of the Star Alliance network1
- 1991: Added long-distance routes1
- Approximately 87% of Spanair’s flights are scheduled and 13% are divided between charter and other operations1
- Offers a Punctuality Guarantee system1
- March 10, 2008: Launched Spanairx4 which offers customers flying its domestic routes four different flight classes: Business, Avant, Economy Plus and Economy1
Spanair Turmoil?
On the day of the deadly Spanair crash disaster, news reports circulated that the airline's pilots union was considering a strike. In July 2008, Spanair's owner, SAS, announced it would cut the airline's workforce by about one quarter in an effort to offset rising gas prices and increased competition. Pilots said the company lacked a solid business plan.4 5 3
Scandanavian-based SAS announced in 2007 that it was putting the subsidiary up for sale. When no good offers were made, SAS withdrew the bid, and the company's stock price plummeted.6 4
Madrid Accident
On August 20, 2008, Spanair Flight #JK 5022 crashed and broke apart after failing to lift off from a runway at the Barajas airport in Madrid.The flight was also code shared with Lufthansa Flight #LH 2554. There were 164 passengers and 9 crew aboard the flight.2
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