Bluebird Nordic

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

Bluebird Nordic, formerly Bluebird Cargo, was 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 and East Midlands Airport as freight hubs.[2]

History

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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[3] 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[2] In January 2020, Avia Solutions Group acquired 100% of Bluebird Nordic.[4]

In August 2021, Bluebird Nordic announced plans to increase its Boeing 737-800 fleet to 25 by 2024.[5] On 4 January 2022, Bluebird Nordic acquired a Boeing 777-300ER which was formerly operated by Emirates.[citation needed] 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.[6]

Bluebird Nordic ceased operations on 30 April 2024 and returned all aircraft to their lessors.[7]

Destinations

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

As of February 2021, Bluebird Nordic operated freight services to the following scheduled destinations in addition to ad-hoc and charter services:[1]

Fleet

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At the time of its cessation it operated three Boeing 737-400Fs and one Boeing 777-200F.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Air Freight". bluebird.is. Retrieved 8 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Directory: World Airlines". Flight International. 27 March 2007. p. 87.
  3. ^ "Icelandic Conversion". Aviation Week & Space Technology. 8 January 2007.
  4. ^ "Avia Solutions to buy freighter operator Bluebird Nordic".
  5. ^ "BlueBird Nordic adding 25 B737 freighters to its fleet". Aviation Nepal. 5 August 2021. Retrieved 19 August 2021.
  6. ^ "Bluebird Nordic appointed Audrone Keinyte as new CEO". aviasg.com. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  7. ^ a b "In Brief". Airliner World. July 2024. p. 7.
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Media related to Bluebird Cargo at Wikimedia Commons