The new Zaragoza based start-up we were expecting has already got a name. According to the information provided by FranjaDigital.com, Air Horizont informed Aena that they intend to operate two weekly frequencies with three new destinations: Munich, Rome and Seville. This would be the first part of their plan. Later, they may incorporate up to four more routes from Zaragoza i.e. Málaga, Alicante, Gran Canaria and Bologna. Some of these routes were already operational in the past, but eventually disappeared. With regard to, Málaga and Alicante, they would be started again to compete with the high speed train services (AVE). Apart from the new routes by Air Horizont, Vueling, Iberia Express and Snowbird might be interested in Zaragoza as well. Also Volotea will start Zaragoza-Menorca according to a piece published in Heraldo.es. This service will start on May 31.
In 2011, Zaragoza served 751,000 passengers. In 2013 only 456,880 people used the airport and 2014 is expected to finish with less than 420,000. The strategies implemented by Aena for Zaragoza airport are based on the consolidation of the airlines which currently operate there. It is also important that business tourism (fairs and events) is further developed.
They have already registered their domain airhorizont.com although so far it only shows the company’s logo .
Air Horizont logo
Leon Airlines
In other news, last week LaNuevaEspaña informed that an entrepreneur of León – Santos Álvarez – set up an airline named Leon Airlines. With this, he intends to operate between León and Barcelona starting in February 2015, with a 30-seat leased aircraft (Saab 340). The airline is planning to operate to Madrid too. The airline’s target is not only to transport passengers and cargo, but to do aircraft maintenance at León airport as well. 20minutos also reported on the establishment of this new company. Leon Airlines was incorporated on the 14th of November.
The airline’s start of operations is expected only a few months before the high speed train begins in León too. This will make the León-Madrid trip as short as 1 hour and 45 minutes.
Photo: Zaragoza airport terminal by Juan50300 – Flickr
