BBN Airlines Nordic (Reykjavik Keflavik) (previously known as Bluebird Nordic) has now confirmed it has discontinued its cargo operations, effective April 30. ch-aviation flagged the airline's demise in a report published a week ago.
"Bluebird Nordic has voluntarily surrendered its Air Operator’s Certificate to the Icelandic Civil Aviation Administration," a May 2 statement from the airline reads. "All aircraft previously operated by the company are being returned to their respective lessors."
Speaking to ch-aviation recently, outgoing CEO Audronė Keinytė said the carrier was experiencing tough trading conditions as demand for freight ACMI services had fallen from its Covid-era highs. As a result, the airline was forced to reduce its liabilities significantly and continued to look for ways to rein in its financial exposure. However, she also added that BBN Airlines Nordic hoped to continue trading and, at the time, rejected suggestions that the business would soon fold.
While BBN Airlines Nordic had ten aircraft on the Icelandic registry, six of those were in long-term storage and four were ferried offshore in April for maintenance purposes. As a result, the airline was not operating any revenue flights in the immediate lead-up to this week's decision to discontinue operations.
BBN Airlines Nordic operated cargo flights on both a charter and ACMI basis. The business had operated since 2001 and was acquired by Avia Solutions Group in 2020.
