An Airline is an organization providing a regular public service for passengers and goods of air transport on one or more routes. It is a system that provides scheduled flights for passengers or cargo. Wright brothers of India invented the Aeroplane. Airlines utilize aircraft to supply these services. An Air Transportation system includes its equipment, routes, operating personnel, and management. Not all airlines are created equal. The best international airlines not only connect travelers with some of the coolest destinations on the planet but also do it with the grace. We are looking for leadership and airlines that innovate to make a real difference to the passenger experience particularly in economy class. A full service airline typically offers passengers in flight entertainment, checked baggage, meals, beverages and comforts such as blankets and pillows in the ticket price. There are still tiny airlines out there, and some of them operate with class, quality and impeccable safety. List of the best small airlines includes one that’s been shuttling between the same two destinations for 40 years. To pick this list of ten great small airlines around the world, we scheduled Airlines that serve 20 or fewer destinations. None of these Airlines had ever had a fatal crash, looked at awards and ratings from independent sources.
1.Druk Air
Drukair crowned winner for the Best Airline Marketing award 2013. The seats are tiny, but apparently so are most people in Bhutan, the home country of little Druk Air. The national airline of Bhutan, Druk Air is also known as brug mkha’ ‘grul las ‘dzi and is headquartered in the western dzongkhag of Paro. Drukair operates a most scheduled flight network within the South Asian region from its major operating base at Paro Airport and currently consists of eight destinations in five countries. It was founded in the year 1981, the formation of the airline marked the end of the self imposed isolation which the country was practicing. The first ever flight took off on 11th February from Paro Airport and was bound for Calcutta in India utilizing Dornier Do 228 aircraft. Due to the unusual location of the airport, deep in a valley 2,235 metres above sea level, the airline then could operate only 18–20 seat STOL-capable aircraft with operating capabilities which included a high service ceiling, high rate of climb and high maneuverability.
The first Airbus A319 arrived in Bhutan on 19 October 2004. Until 23 August 2010 Drukair was the only airline flying into Bhutan. In a region where much airline service is either dangerous or officious, Druk Air’s service meets Bhutan’s unusual goal of enhancing the country’s “gross national happiness.” The airline’s short flights to seven destinations often give passengers a close view of Mount Everest while they’re eating their free, hot curries. The airline’s skilled pilots have never crashed on the daring descents into Paro Airport, one of the most perilous landings in the world. Currently Drukair operates flights from Paro to Bagdogra, Bangkok, Delhi, Dhaka, Gaya, Guwahati, Kathmandu, Kolkata, Mumbai, Thimpu and Singapore. From two destinations in 1983, today, Drukair operates seven times a week to Bangkok where five flights go via Kolkata and two flights through Gaya, thrice to Kathmandu, 3 times to Delhi and bi weekly to Singapore. Druk Air generally release its schedule 3 to 6 months beforehand.
2.FlyBaboo
FlyBaboo was founded in 2003 and it reaches parts of the Mediterranean limits. There are dozens of small regional European airlines, but Baboo, a Geneva-based airline that flies to 15 destinations within Europe. Baboo got stellar scores on review sites, because of a lot of small customer-service touches: food from a local bakery, little goodie bags for kids, and even perfumed towels for passengers. Baboo was recently purchased by Swiss regional airline Darwin; hopefully that won’t lead to a decline in service. Main destinations are London city – Athens – Bordeaux – Toulouse – Bucharest – Geneva – Nice – Rome – Florence – Venice – Valencia – St. Tropez – Biarritz – Ibiza – Larnaca Lugano.
3.Nature Air
Being “carbon neutral” is important in Costa Rica, a small country whose jungle is both a natural resource and a major tourist attraction. The airline had its origins in 1989 with the founding of Travelair, a scheduled domestic air service in Costa Rica. Nature Air was founded in 2003. The best and safest of Costa Rica’s domestic airlines, Nature Air donates money to reforestation projects to offset the exhaust its planes, like all planes, belch into the atmosphere. The airline also has its own terminal in San Jose, which is quieter and more pleasant than the international terminal, and unusually large “panoramic” windows on its small planes, so you can ogle Costa Rica’s jungle scenery on your way to one of its 17 destinations. Between 2001 and 2016, the airline grew under its new management team and brand, boosted by the increasing popularity of Costa Rica as an eco-tourism and adventure travel destination.
In 2010, Nature Air advertised 74 daily flights to 15 destinations in Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama. It is claiming to be the world’s first carbon neutral airline, it was one of the first airlines to publicize its sustainability credentials during a period of rapidly-expanding interest in eco-tourism. Nature Air received a number of awards, including a Global Vision Award for Sustainability from Travel and Leisure magazine in 2011. This airline served destinations including Golfito, Barra Colorado, Liberia, Nosara Beach, Palmar, Puerto Jimenez, Punta Islita, Quepos, San Jose, Tamarindo, Tambor and Tortuguero. Along with their domestic services, Nature Air also offered two international routes to Bocas del Toro in Panama and Managua in Nicaragua.
- New England Airlines
New England Airlines is an airlines/aviation company based out of 56 Airport Rd, Westerly, Rhode Island, United States. One of America’s tiniest scheduled airlines, NEA has been a lifeline for the residents of Block Island, RI for more than 40 years. It was and is the only scheduled airline with its primary bases of operation in Rhode Island. NEA is aviation from an earlier time, still run by its founder, with no ambition to expand or connect to larger airlines, flying its little 12-minute runs every hour or seven days a week. All are in the heart of the USA’s congested Northeast Corridor.
It has been providing daily scheduled air service to Block Island as a certificated Commuter (a person who travels some distance to work on a regular basis) Airline since 1970. Air services, provided by New England Airlines, are offered daily from Westerly, RI. The airline is noted for its provision of cargo delivery services, including Chinese food delivered from the mainland to the Block Island airport in as little as 90 minutes. According to records, half of the business comes from charter requests for business workers in the New York area and other locations along the northeast coast.
5.OpenSkies
OpenSkies is the last of a bunch of “all-business-class” airlines that plied routes between the U.S. and Europe over the past few years. It’s owned by British Airways, but flies between New York and Paris. Its headquarters were located in Rungis, near Paris. The airline launched as a brand of BA European Limited in June 2008, but in April 2009 the name was transferred to Elysair. The airline was a full-service carrier and offered three class service cabins. Wanted to reduce its dependence on its Heathrow Airport hub. The routes that OpenSkies operated were made possible due to the EU-US Open Skies Agreement, which permits any airline based in the United States or the European Union to operate services to and from any EU or American location.
BA European Limited, trading as Openskies, launched originally with a United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority Type A Operating Licence. This permitted the airline to carry passengers, cargo, and mail on aircraft with 20 or more seats. OpenSkies’ first flight, from New York, was on 19 June 2008, using a single Boeing 757 transferred from the BA fleet. The comfort it offers somewhere between coach and business class, with prices more like coach is a civilized way to travel, even if OpenSkies’ planes can be a little run down.
6.Porter Airlines
Porter’s hub airport is a big part of its appeal. It flies to 14 destinations with a hub at Toronto’s Billy Bishop Island Airport, which is right next to downtown and offers airline-lounge-style amenities for all travelers. Porter’s operation at the Toronto airport was launched in 2006 with some controversy. Porter opened a new, larger passenger terminal at the island airport in March 2010. In 2013, Porter made a proposal to expand Toronto Island airport to allow jets. Porter Airlines is a regional airline headquartered at Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on the Toronto Islands in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Owned by Porter Aviation Holdings, formerly known as REGCO Holdings Inc., Porter operates regularly scheduled flights between Toronto and locations in Canada and the United States using Canadian-built Bombardier Q400 turboprop aircraft.
Porter has been acting as a backbone to the economy and has become a frontrunner in providing mini trucks for transporting goods. Porter helps all type of businesses, traders, manufacturers, distributors, retailers, wholesalers, contractors, individuals such as house shifters, luggage shifting and deliveries by facilitating efficient and reliable logistics to cater to their transport needs. Porter Airlines is Canada’s third-largest scheduled carrier. Rated top small airline in the world in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2013 Readers Choice Awards, Porter is committed to offering speed, convenience and service as part of a premium travel experience. Rated a 4-star airline, Porter charms fliers with an upbeat attitude and cute, own-branded snacks on even short flights. It’s a terrific alternative to the chilly, impersonal Air Canada experience. has been acting as a backbone to the economy here and has become a frontrunner.
7.Skywest Airlines, Australia
Having been in operation for nearly 50 years, Skywest Airlines has established a strong foundation in the corporate charter industry in the region, catering to mining companies, tourists, and business travelers. It ferries an average of 810,000 passengers per year on its Fokker 50 turboprops and Fokker 100 jet planes, and its recently acquired Airbus A320 aircraft. A regional carrier based in Perth, Skywest Airlines Pty. Ltd. flies to 24 destinations in Western Australia, Darwin, and Melbourne. It also offers charter flights to domestic destinations, as well as to Bali in Indonesia. Based at the Perth Airport, Skywest Airlines operates on a fleet of 22 aircraft with 14 more on order. Founded in 1963, Skywest initially started its air carrier service with charter flights under the name Carnarvon Air Taxis. Then based out of Carnarvon in Western Australia, it operated a fleet of small aircraft, and changed its name to Skywest Aviation in 1979 upon moving its main hub to Jandakot Airport in Perth.
By 1980, it acquired Stillwell Airlines and changed its name yet again to its present brand, Skywest Airlines. In the course of its history, It has effectively merged with TransWest Airlines, was purchased by the Perron group, then subsequently sold to TNT/News Ltd, after which it operated as an air carrier under Ansett Australia. In 2004, it became subject of a hostile takeover by CaptiveVision Capital Ltd., a Singaporean investment company. After announcing a 10-year alliance with Virgin Australia in January 2011, 10% of its shares were purchased by Virgin Australia Holdings in April 2012. It is a member of the Virgin Australia’s Velocity Rewards Frequent Flyer program, and offers in-flight meals, an in-flight bar, and extensive legroom in all its seating classes.
8.St. Barth Commuter
St Barth Commuter is an airline providing scheduled and non-scheduled services to and from the exclusive island of Saint Barthelemy. Our fleet of Cessna Caravan performs over 9000 flights each year throughout the Caribbean carrying 40000 passengers. The airline was founded in 1995 and began services to Saint Maarten with a single Britten-Norman BN2A Islander. In 2005 the fleet was increased and added new routes to San Juan, Puerto Rico and the French side of Saint Martin, Marigot.
The airline is wholly owned by Bruno Magras. St Barth Commuter is a French airline based in Saint-Barthelemy in the Caribbean. The best of the tiny airlines which crisscross the Caribbean, St. Barth Commuter is “the cream of the crop on St. Barts.” The eensy little, privately-owned airline shuttles people between the larger airports on St. Martin/St. Maarten and St. Barth’s airport, avoiding the need for ferries. Flying into St. Barts is a hoot, too: you land on a tiny airstrip between two volcanic hills, braking mere feet from sunbathers on the beach, according to Flippin.
9.V Australia
Established in 2004, Virgin Australia Holdings owned the long haul V Australia airlines. Virgin Blue announced the rebranding of V Australia and Pacific Blue Australia in 2011. These services came under a single brand name called Virgin Australia. Since 2011, it is popularly known as V Australia. Part of the Virgin empire, V Australia flies to a shifting handful of destinations, but its core route shuttles travelers between Los Angeles and Australia. V Australia has 5 airlines under its fleet. V Australia served the following destinations such as Brisbane, Melbourne, Sydney, Abu Dhabi and Los Angeles and in addition Johannesburg, Phuket and Nadi. V Australia has interline agreements with Alaska Airlines to Seattle, Delta Air Lines and Horizon Air to Portland. In addition, V Australia signed a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airlines. The airline has placed orders with Boeing for 77-300R aircraft for international routes. The first aircraft named Didgeree Blue was delivered to V Australia in Seattle in 2009.
In 2010, 2 Boeing 777 orders were placed for delivery in 2012. However, in 2012, due to unprofitability on some routes the airline ceased 777-300R services to Johannesburg and Phuket. In 2011, with a partnership with Etihad Airways services were deployed from Sydney to Abu Dhabi. We can quickly and easily find flights from V Australia Airlines to the lowest price. Safety is a major priority for Virgin Australia International Airlines. When you fly to global destination on its vast network, you are in safe hands. The journey will be memorable and you will land on time. V brings that Virgin flair to long-haul travel with great in-flight entertainment, two bars, soothing lighting, USB charging ports at every seat and the ability to send text messages when you’re over the Pacific. Like other Virgin airlines, it’s young, fun, and reasonably priced.
10.Virgin America
Flying to 15 destinations with a hub at San Francisco, Virgin’s U.S. carrier is currently the most celebrated low-cost airline in the U.S. It won Skytrax’s award for best low-cost airline in North America, and Zagat’s award for best mid-sized U.S. airline. 2018, Virgin America was a US-based airline which provides low-fare services between the East and West coasts of the United States. The airline was a subsidiary of Virgin and was based at San Francisco International Airport, California. Virgin America flew to many destinations across North America but some of its most popular included Cancun, Puerto Vallarta, Palm Springs, San Diego, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Kahului, Honolulu, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas, Newark, New York City, Portland, San Jose and Orange County. At the time that it stopped flying, it flew to over 35 destinations, the majority of which were taken on by Alaska Airlines.
In April 2016, it was announced that Virgin America was to be acquired by Alaska Airlines. The integration of the two airlines was completed in 2018. The Virgin American Elevate program was merged into the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program, allowing all passengers to transfer their air miles and membership over to Alaska Airlines. During its time of operation, Virgin America was awarded many accolades, including ‘Best Domestic Airline’ in Conde Nast Traveller’s Reader Choice Awards. When Virgin America merged into Alaska Airlines, it flew to several destinations across Canada, Mexico and the US. This included destinations such as San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington D.C, Honolulu, Austin, Dallas, New York City, Seattle, Toronto, Cancun and many more. Virgin America already had a reputation for making flying fun again. It paired a playful brand personality with a great customer experience, introducing perks like touch-screen entertainment, personal power outlets, and Wi-Fi on every flight.
