Blue Air

Blue Air was established in 2004 in Bucharest by a group of Romanian investors, launching operations in December 2004. The airline grew rapidly through the late 2000s and 2010s, capitalizing on the enormous demand for affordable travel to Western European cities with large Romanian communities. Blue Air became a significant employer in Romania and a critical link for the millions of Romanians working in Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland, and the UK. The COVID-19 pandemic severely damaged Blue Air's finances, and the airline received Romanian government support.

Despite the support, structural financial problems persisted. The airline suspended all flights on September 6, 2022, citing unpaid debts including fuel bills, airport charges, and staff wages. The suspension stranded approximately 120,000 passengers with active bookings and prompted consumer protection investigations across multiple EU countries. Romanian authorities began insolvency proceedings.

The ANPC (Romanian National Consumer Protection Authority) and equivalent agencies in several countries ordered Blue Air to refund passengers. The airline's AOC was suspended by the Romanian Civil Aviation Authority (RCAA).