Italy’s Sky Alps launches after delivery hiccups

Following a five-day delay caused by the postponed delivery of its chartered DHC-8-Q400, Sky Alps (Bolzano) began commercial operations on June 17, 2021. The virtual carrier’s inaugural service was from Bolzano via Parma to Ibiza. The route to Parma is scheduled as 5x weekly, with two weekly rotations continuing to Ibiza. Sky Alps’ network also comprises services from the capital of the largely German-speaking Italian province of South Tyrol to:

• Olbia (2x weekly, launched on June 19),
• Rome Fiumicino (2x weekly, starting on June 21),
• Düsseldorf Int’l (2x weekly, starting on July 2), and
• Berlin Brandenburg Int’l (2x weekly, starting on July 4).

All flights are operated with a De Havilland Aircraft of Canada turboprop leased by Sky Alps from Chorus Aviation, 9H-BEL (msn 4230). As the Italian carrier is not certificated, the aircraft is operated on its behalf by Malta’s Luxwing (LWG, Malta Int’l). Sky Alps, which is backed by Bolzano airport owner ADB Holding, originally hoped to launch in May 2020 only for the pandemic to delay these plans to 2021. Its revised launch date, June 12, had to be deferred due to a bureaucratic hold-up involving the aircraft’s registration in Malta as well as the issuance of documents needed for its induction into commercial service. The virtual carrier is expecting the delivery of its second Dash 8-Q400, 9H-EVA (msn 4237), shortly. The ex-flybe. turboprop, also on lease from Chorus Aviation, remains at Malta Int’l airport ahead of its re-registration and onward delivery to Sky Alps.