Volante | Airbus A320

Airline - Volante
Aircraft - Airbus A320-212 | I-FLKG
Delivered to Vienna Airlines, 1995
Sold to Volante, 2002
Sold to European Italy, 2011
Livery - Standard 2001-2011
Country - Italy

Founded in 1998 with a pair of Boeing 767-300ERs, Volante was an Italian holiday and charter airline. In the early 2000s it grew rapidly, acquiring an extensive A320-family fleet, as well as supplementing and then replacing the 767s with the A330-300, which itself was replaced by the -200 when its size proved excessive. Volante provided minimal schedule service during the off-season, though its schedule during the summer season included routes from many European cities to Italian holiday destinations. It also operated extensive domestic service using the Airbus A319 and A320. Additionally, all types in the fleet were used year-round for charter flights within Europe (not just in Italy), as well as to the Caribbean and other holiday destinations worldwide.

While Volante's branding was never considered to be of very high quality, it was praised by travellers as recognizable, if somewhat silly. The 2001 rebranding was also a significant improvement over the plain-white livery worn by by the Airlines 767s and A320s prior to the introduction of the first A319. This specific aircraft - I-FLKG - was one of the five acquired from Vienna Airlines between 2001 and 2004, and is shown with replacement forward engine cowling and reverse door after a foreign object debris damage incident after landing in Palermo. Together with all other Volante aircraft, this A320 was transferred to European Italy after the merger of Volante and Italo Tours created the airline's Italy division.