Cobalt Air

Cobalt Air[1]
IATA ICAO Callsign
CO FCB APOLLO
Founded 2015 (2015)[1]
Commenced operations 1 June 2016 (2016-06-01)[1]
Hubs Larnaca International Airport
Frequent-flyer program Cobalt Elements[2]
Fleet size 6
Destinations 23
Headquarters Nicosia, Cyprus[1]
Key people Captain Petros Souppouris (CEO)
Employees 350 approx (2017)[3]
Website www.cobalt.aero

Cobalt Air or simply Cobalt, is a Cypriot airline based at Larnaca International Airport in Larnaca, Cyprus. The airline operated its maiden flight on 1 June 2016 from Larnaca to Athens.[4] It is the second Cypriot airline (after Tus Airways) to be established since the dissolution of Cyprus Airways in 2015.[5] As of June 2017, it is the second largest airline at Larnaca International Airport with 8.2% of weekly capacity after Aegean, and is predicted to become the largest airline by Summer 2018 following expansion and the subsequent reduction by Aegean at Larnaca.[6]

History

The first Airbus A320 aircraft arrived in April 2016 and the airline was granted an air operator's certificate (AOC) on 18 May 2016 following a test flight between Larnaca and Heraklion. According to chairman Gregory Diacou, Cobalt planned to receive another three aircraft of the same type by the end of June 2016.[7]

Following the successful completion of its maiden flight from Larnaca to Athens, Cobalt on 14 June 2016 began selling tickets from Larnaca on the Athens route as well as on 5 other new routes for the airline to Dublin, Heraklion, London–Stansted, Manchester and Thessaloniki.[8]

On 4 March 2017, it was announced by the transport minister of Cyprus that Cobalt is to operate the route from Paphos to Athens filling in the void left by Ryanair who announced they were to end operating the route in late March, which is when Cobalt began operating the route with flights three times a week.[9]

In May 2017, the airline announced that it would begin adding 'economy comfort seats' on board its 6 aircraft on rows 1-5, with 2 aircraft already fitted with the seats. They are currently only sold at an additional fee at the airport, but they will soon be sold as business class seats in a 2x2 layout with other added benefits being announced shortly. It was also announced that a frequent flyer program will soon be implemented.[6]

In August 2017, the airline announced plans to fit its fleet with onboard Wi-Fi allowing passengers to download content onto their personal electronic devices. The development is part of a move away from the airline’s original low-cost approach to more of a full-service model.[10]

In May 2018, the airline announced it would be using a portable wireless IFE platform called Bluebox Wow to introduce IFE across its fleet.[11][12]

In June 2018, Cobalt signed an interline agreement with Etihad Airways that will see passengers able to check their bags through on connecting flights. The agreement means passengers travelling from Cyprus will be able to connect through Abu Dhabi to more than 100 routes on the Etihad network. Travellers can book onward services with the Middle East carrier with the ability to check their bags through to their final destination.[13]

Destinations

As of February 2018, Cobalt Air flies to 23 destinations in 13 countries, all in Europe, Russia and the Middle East.

The airline's previous CEO, Andrew Madar, stated that an aircraft could be based at Paphos International Airport from winter 2017/18, operating flights to Birmingham, Brussels, Dublin and London–Stansted. However, nothing has yet been officially announced.[14]

In August 2017, the airline announced two new routes from Larnaca to Frankfurt and London–Gatwick. The airline also announced its intention to launch operations to Moscow from Larnaca by the end of the year. It initially intended to launch the service to Moscow in summer 2017, but failed to complete the formalities on time, subsequently the route is planned to launch in late March 2018.[15] The airline also stated its interest in operating to Saint Petersburg in the near future.[16]

In March 2018, it was announced the airline would start a route from Athens to London Gatwick, its first route to not originate from Cyprus, its home base.[17]

Fleet

Cobalt Air Airbus A319-100
Cobalt Air Airbus A320-200

As of 30 June 2018, the Cobalt fleet consists of the following aircraft:[18][19]

Cobalt Air fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Notes
C Y Total
Airbus A319-100 2 — — 144 144[19]
Airbus A320-200 4 — 12 144 156[19]
Total 6 —

Fleet development

The airline plans to acquire two Airbus A330-200 aircraft to start long haul operations to China, South Africa and the US by September 2018, with the deal to acquire the aircraft expected to be finalised by August 2017.[6] As of May 2018, the airline has yet to secure a deal for wide-body aircraft.

Services

Cobalt Air offers business class on selected routes operated by A320 aircraft, the airline's fleet of A319 do not feature the business class offering. Business class features 12 large leather seats in a 2 by 2 configuration. Passengers are offered priority boarding, a dedicated check-in desk, spacious seating and an extensive dining menu that can be ordered at a time of customer’s choice. In addition, Business Class passengers have access to a business class lounge.[20] In economy class passengers are offered a Buy-on-board service.

In flight entertainment

The airline offers in flight entertainment through a portable wireless IFE platform called Bluebox Wow. Bluebox Wow is a portable, lunchbox-sized unit. Each box’s single, swappable and rechargeable battery can deliver up to 15 hours of streamed video content. Cobalt Air has specified three Bluebox Wow units per aircraft, which are secured in the overhead lockers.[21][22]

Cobalt Elements

In September 2018, Cobalt Air launched a passenger recognition programme – Cobalt Elements. The recognition card offers a suite of benefits including seat upgrades, fare discounts, priority check-in/boarding, increased baggage allowance, a dedicated support line and other incentives to frequent flyer members across the Cobalt network. Members receive a Cobalt Elements black card and premium baggage tags. Elements vouchers can be used to upgrade flights. An annual membership includes three complimentary upgrade vouchers from economy to business class. Additional upgrade vouchers can be purchased at a discount. Elements members also receive a 10% discount on Cobalt’s lowest fares.[23]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cobalt Aero". cobalt.aero. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  2. ↑ "Cobalt Elements". cobaltelements.com. Retrieved 2018-09-06.
  3. ↑ "COBALT AERO". Linkedin. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  4. ↑ "COBALT – the new airline of Cyprus – conquers the skies". cyprus-mail.com. 2016-06-03. Retrieved 2018-01-04.
  5. ↑ Leonidou, John (2016-03-02). "First Cobalt Air flights in June". Archived from the original on 2016-04-04. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  6. 1 2 3 Ford, Johnathan (2017-06-15). "Cobalt, Cyprus' leading airline, prepares to go long-haul". anna.aero. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  7. ↑ "COBALT officially Cyprus' new airline". InCyprus. 2016-05-18. Archived from the original on 2016-05-19. Retrieved 2016-05-20.
  8. ↑ "Cobalt takes to the skies from Cyprus". anna.aero. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2017-06-21.
  9. ↑ "Cobalt to fill Ryanair's Paphos-Athens gap". cyprus-mail.com. 4 March 2017. Retrieved 5 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "Cobalt Air To Install Onboard Wi-Fi". aviationweek.com. 14 August 2017. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
  11. ↑ "Cobalt Air adds IFE across A320/A319 fleet, using portable wireless platform". aircraftinteriorsinternational.com. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  12. ↑ "Fleet-wide IFE enhancement aboard expanding Cyprus carrier's Airbus A320/A319 fleet". cobalt.aero. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  13. ↑ "Cobalt Air signs interline agreement with Etihad". buyingbusinesstravel.com. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  14. ↑ "INTERVIEW: Cobalt connecting Cyprus with the world". Cyprus Traveller. 7 June 2017. Retrieved 21 June 2017.
  15. ↑ "Home - Cobalt Aero". cobalt.aero. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  16. ↑ "Cypriot Cobalt Air to lauch [sic] flights to Moscow before year-end". www.rusaviainsider.com. 29 August 2017.
  17. ↑ "Cypriot carrier Cobalt Air to operate Gatwick-Athens route". travelweekly.co.uk. 19 March 2018.
  18. ↑ Cyprus Aircraft Register As At 30 June 2018, pages 5-6
  19. 1 2 3 "Fleet". cobalt.aero. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  20. ↑ "Business class". cobalt.aero. Retrieved 13 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "Cobalt Air adds IFE across A320/A319 fleet, using portable wireless platform". aircraftinteriorsinternational.com. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  22. ↑ "Fleet-wide IFE enhancement aboard expanding Cyprus carrier's Airbus A320/A319 fleet". cobalt.aero. 25 May 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  23. ↑ "COBALT AIR LAUNCHES COBALT ELEMENTS RECOGNITION CARD". cobalt.aero. Retrieved 3 October 2018.
  • Cyprus Aircraft Register As At 30 June 2018, retrieved 29 July 2018 via "Cyprus Aircraft Register". mcw.gov.cy. Nicosia, Cyprus: Republic of Cyprus Department of Civil Aviation. 30 June 2018. Retrieved 29 July 2018.
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