Many have advised Luca Patanè against it. They told the political scientist that became entrepreneur that getting into aviation was not a good idea. He did not listen and in 2017 bought Blue Panorama Airlines, which was in trouble.
Uvet Group, founded by Patanè's father in 1950 as a tour operator, congress organiser and business trip specialist, was thus given its own airline. Patanè seems proud to have taken the risk. He decided to rename Blue Panorama Airlines. The airline will fly through the world as Luke Air in the future whereby Luke is the English form of Luca. At the same time, the aircraft will be repainted.
A330 from Qatar Airways
But it's about more than vanity. Patanè also wants to realign Blue Panorama/Luke Air. The new business plan will be presented in the coming weeks. A first step has already been taken. Patanè has decided to phase out the three Boeing 767s, which are almost 30 years old, and to buy three Airbus A330-200s as replacements, of which at least one comes from Qatar Airways.
In the face of increasing competition from Air Italy and Neos a new way forward was being sought, Patanè told TTG Italia . He could imagine offering more long-haul routes. The owner of Blue Panorama or Luke Air wants to take advantage of Alitalia's weakness. In any case, he wants to become significantly less dependent on the summer months.
Caribbean, South America, Mediterranean
Blue Panorama currently flies to holiday destinations such as Bodrum, Mykonos or Sharm El-Sheik, but also Malé on the Maldives, Montego Bay on Jamaica or Porto Seguro in Brazil. It also operates the low-cost airline Blu Express, which is particularly strong on flights to Albania. The fleet consists of the three Boeing 767s to be replaced and 15 Boeing 737 - 737-300, -400 and -800.
In the picture gallery above you can see what the Blue Panorama aircraft look like today and what the Luke Air jets will look like.
Blue Panorama opts for new strategy and new look
Blue Panorama's livery of today.
Blue Panorama's livery of today.
The look of the low-cost subsidiary Blu Express.
The look of the low-cost subsidiary Blu Express.
The future livery and the new name: Luke Air.
The future livery and the new name: Luke Air.
