{{short description|Albanian low-cost airline}} {{protection padlock|small=yes}} {{Infobox airline | airline = Albawings | logo = Albawings-Logo.png | logo_size = 250px | image = ZA-ALB Boeing 737-46J Albawings Stansted 9.8.23 (53105767960).jpg | caption = Boeing 737-400 | IATA = 2B | ICAO = AWT | callsign = ALBAWINGS | founded = February 2015 | commenced = September 2016 | headquarters = Tirana, Albania | key_people = * Dritan Shakohoxha CEO | hubs = | fleet_size = 1 | destinations = 7 | website = {{URL|https://www.albawings.com/en}} | ceased = January 12, 2024 | aoc = | focus_cities = | frequent_flyer = | parent = | num_employees = 72{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} }}
'''Albawings''' was an Albanian low-cost airline headquartered in Tirana and based at Tirana International Airport Nënë Tereza.
==History== [[File:ZA-AWA_LLBG_29-07-2016a.jpg|thumb|left|Boeing 737-500]]
Albawings was founded in February 2015.<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://albawings.com/web/about/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160916123243/http://albawings.com/web/about/|url-status=dead|archive-date=16 September 2016|title=About - Albawings|access-date=21 February 2017}}</ref> AThe air carrier was awarded the Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) by the Albanian Civil Aviation Authority on 4 February 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/44507-start-up-albawings-takes-delivery-of-first-b737-aircraft|title=Start-up Albawings takes delivery of first B737 aircraft|publisher=|access-date=21 February 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Newcomer Albawings takes delivery of its first aircraft |url=http://www.airlinersphotostream.com/2016/03/08/newcomer-albawings-takes-delivery-first-aircraft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161014042057/http://www.airlinersphotostream.com/2016/03/08/newcomer-albawings-takes-delivery-first-aircraft/ |archive-date=2016-10-14 |access-date=21 February 2017 |website=Airliners Photostream}}</ref> The first aircraft of the company was a Boeing 737-500, with which Albawings started operations, was christened "Spirit of Tirana".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://italiavola.com/2016/03/07/14468/|title=Albawings.com, il Boeing 737/500 Spirit of Tirana|last=Italiavola|date=7 March 2016|publisher=|access-date=21 February 2017}}</ref>
On 11 December 2016, a second aircraft was delivered by rock band frontman Bruce Dickinson. The leased plane was a Boeing 737-400 owned by Cardiff Aviation, and was christened ''Mr. Pitkin'' after Sir Norman Wisdom's character Norman Piktin. Wisdom was a notably popular actor in Albania during the communist years of Enver Hoxha, when the character was commonly referred to as "Mr. Pitkin" by Albanian audiences.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walesonline.co.uk/business/business-news/iron-maidens-bruce-dickinson-flies-12309338#ICID=sharebar_twitter%7C|title=Iron Maiden's Bruce Dickinson flies the Sir Norman Wisdom to Albania|first=Chris|last=Pyke|date=12 December 2016}}</ref>
On 12 January 2024, Albawings stopped flying and ceased operations due to strong competition from other carriers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/240118-2b1q24 |title=Albawings 1Q24 Network Temporary Changes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-12-19 |title=These 17 Airlines Shut Down Operations In 2024 |url=https://www.gatechecked.com/airlines-shut-down-operations-2024-9869 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.gatechecked.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Aviacionline |title=Around 20 airlines ceased operations in 2024 |url=https://www.aviacionline.com/around-20-airlines-ceased-operations-in-2024 |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Aviacionline {{!}} Aviacionline es el sitio de aviación en español más leído del mundo. Presenta noticias de aerolíneas, aviones, aeropuertos, y demás. |language=es}}</ref>
== Fleet == {{As of|2025|8}}, Albawings operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite journal |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Albawings |journal=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=50}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style=" text-align:center; margin:auto;" |+ Albawings fleet |- !rowspan="2"|Aircraft !rowspan="2"|In Service !rowspan="2"|Orders !colspan="3"|Passengers !rowspan="2"|Notes |- !<abbr title=Business>C</abbr> !<abbr title=Economy>Y</abbr> !Total |- |Boeing 737-400 |1 | | |188 |188 | |- !Total !1 ! ! ! ! !colspan="1"| |}
{| class="wikitable" style=" text-align:center; margin:auto;" |+ Albawings former fleet |- !Aircraft !total !Introduced !Retired !Note |- |Boeing 737-500 |1 |2016 |2020 |stored in a hangar |- |Boeing 737-400 |3 |2016 |2017 |leased from VVB Aviation Malta |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category-inline}} * {{official website|http://www.albawings.com}}
{{Portal bar|Companies|Aviation}} {{Airlines of Albania}}
Category:Defunct airlines of Albania Category:2015 establishments in Albania Category:Airlines established in 2015 Category:2024 disestablishments in Albania Category:Airlines disestablished in 2024 Category:Defunct low-cost airlines Category:Defunct European low-cost airlines Category:Albanian brands