MeridianaIG

Meridiana ceased all operations in September 2018, following merger into Air Italy. This guide provides historical information about the airline.

Meridiana was Italy's third-largest airline and the primary flag carrier of Sardinia, serving the island's tourism and connectivity needs since 1963. Headquartered in Cagliari (OLB - Elmas Airport), the airline was deeply rooted in Sardinian identity and was known for its distinctive blue livery featuring golden accents.

Founded in 1963 by private investors, Meridiana grew from a regional carrier to a pan-European airline operating scheduled services to 45+ destinations across Europe and seasonal routes to North Africa. At its peak, the airline carried over 8 million passengers annually with a modern fleet of approximately 40 aircraft.

Meridiana was uniquely positioned as Sardinia's primary air link to the Italian mainland and international destinations. The airline specialized in leisure travel, with particularly strong networks during summer months serving tourist destinations across the Mediterranean.

In 2017, Meridiana entered into negotiations with private investors, ultimately being acquired by the same group that backed Air Italy (which launched in 2019 with Meridiana's fleet and operations). On September 11, 2018, Meridiana's final flight landed in Cagliari, with all remaining operations and aircraft transferred to Air Italy.

Air Italy itself proved short-lived, ceasing operations in February 2020 after just 18 months of operation, following Etihad Airways' withdrawal of financial support.