Meridiana

Meridiana was an Italian airline headquartered in Olbia, Sardinia, with roots tracing back to 1963 when it was founded as Alisarda. It rebranded as Meridiana in 1991 and grew to become one of Italy's largest private carriers, offering scheduled and charter services across Europe and intercontinental routes. The airline operated a significant network connecting Italian cities and Sardinia with destinations across Europe, North Africa, and beyond. It formed a partnership with Qatar Airways, which acquired a stake in the carrier in 2015, leading to a rebranding as Meridiana fly and later as Air Italy in 2018. Meridiana played an important role in developing tourism in Sardinia and served as a key regional carrier for the island. The airline ultimately ceased operations in February 2020 under the Air Italy name after its shareholder Qatar Airways declined to continue funding the venture.