SkyAlps: The Small Bolzano Airline and Its Dash 8 Turboprops

History and positioning

A recent entrant on the Italian regional scene, built specifically around Bolzano Airport, which for decades struggled to sustain stable scheduled air service, with a "boutique" positioning that plays up South Tyrol's upscale Alpine tourism image.

The fleet

An all-turboprop fleet of De Havilland Dash 8 Q400s, chosen specifically for their ability to operate from Bolzano's short runway while keeping emissions and noise lower than regional jets of similar size.

Routes and network

A largely seasonal, leisure-oriented network from Bolzano to German cities (Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Hanover), other European leisure destinations (Ibiza, Corfu, Menorca, Brač) and Italian destinations such as Olbia, Cagliari, Catania, Lamezia Terme and Brindisi, with a route map that changes significantly between summer and winter.

On board and service

A compact single-class cabin with a capacity of up to about 76 passengers, a positioning built on comfort and the novelty of flying from a small Alpine airport rather than on price competition with low-cost jets.

The ideal passenger specifically wants to fly to or from Bolzano instead of driving to larger airports such as Verona or Innsbruck. It is not the right choice for anyone who needs a stable schedule all year round, since much of the network is seasonal and changes a lot between summer and winter. Practical tip: check the current seasonal route map before booking an itinerary with a connection, because a route available in summer may simply not exist in winter.