Animawings

Animawings is a Romanian passenger airline headquartered in Otopeni and based at Henri Coandă International Airport, serving the Bucharest air-travel market and other Romanian departure points. The airline operates both scheduled and charter commercial flights, with a business model closely connected to leisure travel, tour-operator demand and holiday transportation. Its operations are associated with Memento Group, the Romanian tourism group that owns the airline. The airline was established in 2019 and entered a formative period during the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, Aegean Airlines acquired a minority stake, taking 25% of the company while Memento Group retained the majority. Animawings obtained its Air Operator's Certificate in July 2020 and began operating charter flights. In January 2021, it started selling tickets through its own website, offering services from 11 Romanian airports to destinations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. Aegean later increased its holding to 51% in October 2021. This created a closer connection with the Greek airline and supported cooperation between the two companies, including a codeshare arrangement. The ownership structure subsequently changed: following negotiations lasting approximately eight months, the Romanian Competition Council approved Memento Group's repurchase of Aegean's shares in February 2024. Memento Group consequently became the airline's sole owner according to the cited reference material. Animawings combines the flexibility of a leisure-focused charter operator with an expanding scheduled-flight proposition. Its routes and capacity are therefore influenced by holiday seasons, tourism programs, airport availability and commercial arrangements rather than solely by year-round business travel. From summer 2024, the airline expanded its offering to business and leisure destinations departing from 10 cities in Romania. It also maintains an interline agreement with Hahn Air in addition to its codeshare relationship with Aegean Airlines. The brand's principal customer groups include individual travelers, travel agencies, tour operators and passengers purchasing packaged holidays. Its positioning is distinct from that of a large network carrier: Animawings is a Romanian airline designed around tourism-linked connectivity, charter capacity and direct access to leisure destinations, while also developing scheduled services for both leisure and business passengers. Public reference material does not establish a complete current fleet, route list, financial profile or executive roster, so those details are not stated here.

Animawings was established in Romania in 2019 as an airline linked to the country's tourism sector. Its development was associated with Memento Group, a tour operator that sought to provide air-transport capacity for holiday programs and related travel demand. The company was designed to serve both charter and passenger markets, giving tour operators and travelers an airline option connected to Romanian outbound tourism. Aegean Airlines became involved during the airline's early development. In March 2020, Aegean took a 25% stake in Animawings, while Memento Group held the remaining majority interest. The investment took place during a difficult period for commercial aviation, but Animawings continued toward operational certification. In July 2020, it obtained its Air Operator's Certificate and launched charter flights. This initial operating phase emphasized tourism-related capacity and seasonal travel. In January 2021, Animawings began selling tickets on its own website. At that stage, it offered departures from 11 Romanian airports to destinations in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. The direct-sales launch broadened the airline's role beyond flights arranged primarily through tour operators and gave individual passengers a direct purchasing channel. Aegean increased its holding to 51% in October 2021. The relationship developed into both an ownership connection and an operational-commercial partnership. The two airlines have a codeshare agreement, while Animawings also has an interline agreement with Hahn Air. These arrangements can support the sale and combination of journeys across participating airline networks, although the cited material does not specify the complete route or booking scope. The ownership structure changed again in 2024. After approximately eight months of negotiations, the Romanian Competition Council approved Memento Group's acquisition of Aegean's shares in February. Memento Group consequently became the sole owner of Animawings according to the reference material. The transaction marked a shift from a jointly held airline with a major Greek airline partner to a wholly Memento-owned company, while cooperation with Aegean continued through a codeshare relationship. From summer 2024, Animawings expanded its scheduled proposition by serving business and leisure destinations from 10 Romanian cities. This development reflected an effort to complement charter flying with a broader regular-service network. The airline remains based at Henri Coandă International Airport and operates from the Bucharest-area aviation market, while its wider Romanian departure network helps connect passengers outside the capital. Animawings' history is therefore characterized by three linked phases: creation within a Romanian tourism group, early operational and ownership cooperation with Aegean Airlines, and subsequent consolidation under Memento Group. Its brand identity remains centered on passenger air transport for tourism, including charter services and seasonal leisure routes, while its scheduled operations extend the offering to business and individual travelers. The cited material does not provide a sufficiently complete basis for a current fleet description, passenger totals, revenue figures or a named executive list.

• 2024

  Memento Group returns to full ownership

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  The Romanian Competition Council approves Memento Group's acquisition of Aegean's shares, resulting in 100% ownership by Memento Group according to the reference.

• 2024

  Scheduled network expands from Romanian cities

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  From summer 2024, Animawings serves business and leisure destinations from 10 cities in Romania.

• 2021

  Direct ticket sales begin

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  The airline begins selling tickets through its own website from 11 Romanian airports to destinations in three broad regions.

• 2021

  Aegean becomes majority shareholder

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  Aegean increases its stake in Animawings to 51%.

• 2020

  Aegean acquires a minority stake

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  Aegean Airlines takes a 25% interest in Animawings, with Memento Group retaining majority ownership.

• 2020

  Air Operator's Certificate and charter launch

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  Animawings receives its Air Operator's Certificate and starts operating charter flights.

• 2019

  Animawings is established

  [1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  The Romanian airline is established with a business model connected to tourism transport and charter flying.

A Romanian tourism-oriented airline combining scheduled passenger services with charter operations for leisure and business travel.

• Passenger air transport · 2021

  Scheduled passenger flights

  Animawings operates regular commercial passenger services from Romania to selected business and leisure destinations. The scheduled proposition expanded from summer 2024 to include departures from 10 Romanian cities, broadening access beyond the airline's Bucharest-area base. Routes and operating patterns may vary by season and commercial demand.

• Tourism air transport · 2020

  Charter flights

  Charter flying was Animawings' initial operating focus after the airline obtained its Air Operator's Certificate in July 2020. These services support tour operators, travel agencies and holiday programs, with capacity and destinations shaped by seasonal tourism demand and contracted travel arrangements.

• Airline partnership services

  Codeshare and interline services

  Animawings maintains a codeshare agreement with Aegean Airlines and an interline agreement with Hahn Air. These partnerships connect Animawings' services with partner distribution and ticketing systems, although the cited reference does not specify the full set of eligible routes or fare products.

• 2024

  Memento Group repurchases Aegean's sharesM&A

  Background

  After Aegean had become the majority shareholder, Memento Group negotiated to reacquire the shares held by the Greek airline.

  Action taken

  The Romanian Competition Council approved Memento Group's purchase of Aegean's shares in February 2024.

  Aftermath

  Memento Group became the airline's 100% owner according to the cited reference, while Animawings continued to have a codeshare relationship with Aegean.

  Source

• 2024

  Expansion of regular services from Romanian citiesStrategy

  Background

  Animawings sought to complement tourism-oriented charter operations with a wider scheduled network.

  Action taken

  From summer 2024, the airline began serving business and leisure destinations from 10 cities across Romania.

  Aftermath

  The expansion broadened the brand's reach among Romanian passengers and strengthened its dual scheduled-and-charter positioning.

  Source

• 2021

  Move into direct ticket salesStrategy

  Background

  The airline's early model was closely connected to charter and tourism operations.

  Action taken

  Animawings began selling tickets through its own website from 11 airports in Romania.

  Aftermath

  The move gave individual passengers a direct purchase channel and supported a broader scheduled-service proposition.

  Source

• 2021

  Aegean increases its ownership stakeM&A

  Background

  Aegean Airlines had initially entered Animawings as a 25% shareholder.

  Action taken

  Aegean increased its holding to 51% in October 2021.

  Aftermath

  The transaction made Aegean the majority shareholder during this phase and deepened the corporate relationship between the airlines.

  Source

• 2020

  Launch of charter operationsProduct launch

  Background

  Animawings had been established as a Romanian airline associated with tourism and needed regulatory authorization before beginning commercial operations.

  Action taken

  After receiving its Air Operator's Certificate in July 2020, the airline commenced charter flights.

  Aftermath

  Charter flying established the airline's initial operating platform and reinforced its tourism-oriented positioning.

  Source

• 2024

  Memento Group repurchases Aegean's Animawings shares[1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Regulation

  The Romanian Competition Council approved Memento Group's purchase of Aegean's shares, leaving Memento Group with full ownership of Animawings according to the cited reference.

• 2024

  Animawings expands Romanian departure network for summer 2024[1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The airline began serving business and leisure destinations from 10 cities across Romania during the summer season.

• 2021

  Animawings begins selling tickets through its own website[1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  Animawings opened direct ticket sales from 11 Romanian airports to destinations across Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

• 2021

  Aegean Airlines raises its Animawings stake to 51%[1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Aegean increased its ownership interest, becoming the majority shareholder at that point in the airline's development.

• 2020

  Aegean Airlines takes a 25% stake in Animawings[1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  M&A

  Aegean Airlines entered Animawings as a minority investor, while Memento Group retained the majority ownership position.

• 2020

  Animawings obtains its Air Operator's Certificate and launches charter operations[1]Animawingsen.wikipedia.org

  Product launch

  The airline secured its Air Operator's Certificate and began commercial operations with charter flights.

1. 1Animawingsen.wikipedia.org