Spanair

Spanair was a Spanish airline headquartered in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, and based at Barcelona El Prat Airport and Madrid Barajas Airport. It was a Star Alliance member from 2003 until its closure.

The airline was founded in December 1986 as a joint venture between Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and a Spanish charter company, Viajes Marsans. Commercial operations commenced in March 1988 with flights between Madrid and Barcelona. Initially focused on charter flights, Spanair gradually expanded its network to include scheduled domestic and international routes.

Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, Spanair experienced significant growth, becoming a major player in the Spanish aviation market. However, the airline faced increasing financial difficulties in the years leading up to its collapse.

On January 27, 2012, Spanair ceased all operations due to its inability to secure further funding. The airline had been struggling with mounting debts and declining passenger numbers for some time. The grounding of the airline left thousands of passengers stranded and resulted in significant job losses.

The closure of Spanair marked the end of an era for Spanish aviation and had a significant impact on the country's air travel industry.