note

Scheduled passenger airline formed by Franco Mancassola who was Continental Airlines London representative in 1980s. He masterminded Continental Air Lines international expansion and also founded and operated inter-island airline in Hawaii in late 1980s. Debonair's business model was full service low cost airline. Airline also introduced business class. Innitial destinations included Copenhagen, Mönchengladbach, Munich, Barcelona, Nice and Newcastle - all served from London Luton airport. Airline quickly expanded and Rome, Paris and Madrid were added to its schedule. Airline had to compete with emerging EasyJet which was also based at Luton. Although company did raise cash when it went public in 1997, it eventually could not keep up with its debt and had to file for bankruptcy protection from which it did not recover.

founded - demised (age)

1996 - September 30 1999  (3)

headquarters

, Luton

web

base airports

EGGW Luton London

Main hub

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