Bluebird Nordic

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Bluebird Nordic
IATA ICAO Callsign
BO BBD BLUE CARGO[1]
Founded1999
Commenced operationsMarch 2001
Ceased operations30 April 2024[2]
HubsKeflavík International Airport[3]
Fleet size14
Destinations3 (scheduled)[4]
Parent companyAvia Solutions Group
HeadquartersReykjavík, Iceland
Key peopleAudrone Keinyte, CEO
Websitebluebird.is

Bluebird Nordic, formerly Bluebird Cargo, was[2] a cargo airline based in Reykjavík, Iceland, operating scheduled and chartered cargo services to and from Iceland and within Europe out of its base at Keflavík International Airport, with a special focus on Liège Airport & East Midlands Airport as freight hubs.[3]

History[edit]

Bluebird Cargo was established in 1999 and started operations in March 2001. Operations began with daily freighter services between Iceland, the United Kingdom and Germany with a single Boeing 737-300F. It was wholly owned by Icelandair Group[5] until 2010 and had 63 employees as of 2007.[citation needed]

In 2014, the airline was bought by Haru Holding and Steinn Logi Björnsson became CEO. In 2017, the company changed their name from Bluebird Cargo to Bluebird Nordic[3] In January 2020, Avia Solutions Group acquired 100% of Bluebird Nordic.[6]

In August 2021, Bluebird Nordic announced plans to increase its Boeing 737-800 fleet to 25 units by 2024.[7] On 4 January 2022, Bluebird Nordic acquired a Boeing 777-300ER which was formerly operated by Emirates.[8] On 25 January 2022, Bluebird Nordic acquired another 777-300ER which was formerly operated by Cathay Pacific. In April 2022, Bluebird Nordic appointed Audrone Keinyte as new CEO.[9]

Bluebird Nordic ceased operations on 30 April 2024 and returned all aircraft to their lessors.[2]

Destinations[edit]

As of February 2021, Bluebird Nordic operated freight services to the following scheduled destinations in addition to ad-hoc and charter services:[4]

Fleet[edit]

A Bluebird Nordic Boeing 737-400F at Tallinn Airport in 2020.

Prior to its closure, the Bluebird Nordic fleet consisted of the following aircraft:[10]

Aircraft In service Notes
Boeing 737-300F
1
Boeing 737-400F
3
Boeing 737-800BCF
4
Boeing 777-200ER
1
Boeing 777-300ER
3
Total 12

References[edit]

  1. ^ Airline Codes
  2. ^ a b c aerotelegraph.com - "Bluebird Nordic ceases operations" (German) 4 May 2024
  3. ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 2007-03-27. p. 87.
  4. ^ a b bluebird.is - Air Freight retrieved 8 February 2021
  5. ^ "Icelandic Conversion", Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 8, 2007.
  6. ^ https://www.aircargonews.net/airlines/freighter-operator/avia-solutions-to-buy-freighter-operator-bluebird-nordic/ Avia Solutions to buy freighter operator Bluebird Nordic
  7. ^ "BlueBird Nordic adding 25 B737 freighters to its fleet". Aviation Nepal. 2021-08-05. Retrieved 2021-08-19.
  8. ^ "TF-BBB Bluebird Cargo Boeing 777-300ER". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved 2022-01-06.
  9. ^ "Bluebird Nordic appointed Audrone Keinyte as new CEO". aviasg.com. Retrieved 2022-04-06.
  10. ^ planespotters.net - Bluebird Cargo Fleet Details and History retrieved 8 February 2021

External links[edit]

Media related to Bluebird Cargo at Wikimedia Commons