Start-up mountain sports airline powdair, whose flights between Sion Airport in the Valais region of Switzerland and eight UK, Belgian and Swiss destinations start from the 11th December, today announced agreement of a notified equity shareholding in Danish air operator, Backbone Aviation as part of the new airline group.

Backbone, who had already been contracted to wet lease two of powdair’s four aircraft (two 50 seat CRJ200 regional jets) will now effectively be one of the new group companies which will result in powdair being able to expand its future route network to include Chambery and Innsbruck over the coming winter seasons.

Backbone and powdair had been in talks for some time regarding joining forces to take advantage of the synergies between both companies. With powdair responsible for all sales and commercial development of the new airline group, and Backbone focusing on safety, quality, regulatory and aircraft operations, the new airline group will be ideally positioned to develop air transport routes throughout Europe, focused on increasing aircraft types and routes using technology as the enabler.

Suzette Knudsgaard CEO of Backbone said: “We see the partnership with powdair to be a seamless and sensible way to develop airline routes across Europe with each party having clear strengths to combine and make a powerful new type of airline company. We look forward to this exciting new chapter in our history!”

Zoë Ombler, Head of Commercial for powdair said: “We were delighted to be working with such an innovative and forward thinking operator such as Backbone to operate aircraft on behalf of the powdair fleet – this new partnership will strengthen powdair’s capabilities further at what is an incredibly exciting time in the lead up to our first flights starting from the 11th December.”