Explorer (airline)

## Status

Active

**Explorer** is a Norcafian low-cost airline based at Maiclaus-Spencer Pickering International Airport, the main airport of the country. Since 2019, it has been a subsidiary of Air Norcafa. The airline operates services to destinations throughout Europe, Northern Africa and the Middle East.

## History

### Early years

The airline was established by Alphonso Nepi, a former CEO of Air Norcafa, on 28 April 2003 with a vision of serving a wider range of destinations and countries to create competition with other European low-cost carriers, including Ryanair and Transavia. Operations commenced later in October of that year with a fleet consisting of an Airbus A319-100, A320-200, A321-200 and Boeing 757-200. The first flight was flown from Maiclaus to Athens.

In 2004, Explorer became a member of the European Low Fares Airline Association (ELFAA) before the organisation ceased operations in 2016.

Explorer provided services for most of Norcafa's athletes participating in the 2004 Summer Olympics.

### Rapid growth and financial crisis

From 2005 to 2008, the airline began to expand its routes and fleet, with 3 Airbus A320-200s and 2 A321-200s being acquired. With this, passenger traffic increased substantially and thus became one of the fastest growing low-cost carriers in Europe. In 2007 alone, the airline served over 1.8 million passengers.

Services opened to several countries in Europe as well as to countries in Asia and Northern Africa to satisfy demand and to meet the vision of providing a wide variety of destinations.

The financial recession in the late 2000s caused passenger traffic and profit to significantly decline, severely impacting the airline. Unlike fellow airline Air Norcafa, Explorer stayed out of bankruptcy and continued scheduled services.

### Loss of passenger traffic

During the early to mid 2010s, the airline experienced a major fall in passenger traffic as customers made the move to other low-cost carriers because of lower price offers. In 2014, a reported 383,719 passengers flew with Explorer, a reduction from 448,951 the previous year.

The airline made campaigns in 2015 and 2017 to 'attempt to gain customers back', according to the CEO at the time. However, passenger traffic still declined albeit at a lower rate. In late 2017, the airline announced its suspension of operations, causing most of its staff to be left jobless. Some of its fleet were either transferred to another airline or scrapped.

In July 2018, limited flights resumed, only operating services to some countries in southern Europe along with Tunisia in an attempt to gain profit. In November of that year, CEO Emmerson Elliot announced that the airline had filed for bankruptcy.

### Air Norcafa acquisition and COVID-19

On 30 March 2019, Explorer had struck a deal with Air Norcafa to be acquired for €350 million with a 51.6% stake. The acquisition was announced the following day by the latter. Since the acquisition, services resumed to most of the airline's destinations.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the airline again suspended operations to all destinations as the Government of Norcafa announced restrictions on travelling to other countries. Along with Air Norcafa, services resumed in early 2021, though with safety protocols and restrictions.

## Fleet

Explorer's fleet comprises of 15 aircraft with most of the aircraft being produced by Airbus and Boeing, along with an aircraft produced by Embraer. The fleet is expected to be expanded to 19 by 2024.

### Historical fleet

The airline formerly operated the following aircraft:

 Boeing 757-200

## Destinations

Explorer operates services to over 30 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe.

## Accidents and incidents

* 14 October 2007: An Explorer Airbus A321-200's right engine caught on fire while being parked at Athens International Airport and was quickly extinguished. Initially, it was thought that it was a case of arson, but was soon ruled out and was concluded to be accidental. As no one was on the plane at the time, there were no reported injuries.
* 13 November 2009: An Explorer Boeing 757-200's nose landing gear failed while on approach to Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport, causing the front of the plane to be damaged. The aircraft was repaired and re-entered service a month later. 3 passengers sustained minor injuries.
* 10 July 2014: Explorer Flight 128 was a passenger flight involving an Explorer Airbus A320-200 on approach to Maiclaus-Spencer Pickering International Airport from Milan Malpensa Airport suffered a fuel leakage, causing the plane to crash into the Mediterranean Sea around 10 minutes after it was identified. All 45 passengers and crew onboard were killed. CEO Emmerson Elliot expressed sorrow of the accident on social media. It is currently the deadliest accident in Norcafa's aviation history.