In a few days, after a long break, the first scheduled flight will be from Bolzano Airport in South Tyrol. The in-house brand Skyalps will set up a network with two DHC Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft. The first flight will be to the Italian capital Rome.

Bolzano Airport has had turbulent times, because after the discontinuation of the flights operated by Darwin Airline, the future of the airport was even at stake. The citizens have decided that the state of South Tyrol should stay out of it in the future. A consortium of private entrepreneurs was found that took over Bolzano Airport and wants to develop it further.

The most important part is the in-house brand Skyalps with their two DHC Dash 8-400. With these, a small network is to be built up that will better connect South Tyrol with other parts of Italy and Europe. Since Skyalps is a tour operator and not an airline, it is formally a charter flight. The operations of the flights are carried out by the Maltese Luxwing.

At Luqa Airport (Malta), the two DHC Dash 8-400s are currently being prepared for their first flights under the Skyalps brand. Both machines already have the livery of the South Tyrolean home base brand. The technical work is carried out by the MRO company Medavia.

Up to now, Luxwing has specialized in the business travel segment. The entry into the liner business - on behalf of Skyalps - is a step that the Maltese carrier is proud of. This week, the airline's captains scrutinized the DHC Dash 8-400 with meticulous precision, because everything should run perfectly on the day of the first flight. At the end of this week, the 9H-BEL is to be transferred to Bolzano. This machine is 12,9 years old and previously flew for Flybe. Said Dash is already registered in the Maltese register and already has the final registration.

The second machine will be registered in Malta as 9H-EVA. The future registration number is currently still covered with the transfer number G-EXOO. This Dash 8-400 was also previously used for Flybe and is 12,4 years old. Both machines are leased from Chorus Aviation.

The passenger compartment of the Skyalps aircraft is brightly designed. The seats in are designed in light synthetic leather. Since the possibilities for customization are limited with this type of machine, the equipment fully corresponds to that of other Dash operators. The notice that the machine is operated by Luxwing is affixed to the inside on the left at the entrance.

You will find out when the first Skyalps flights will start and which destinations could follow iIn this Aviation Direct article.