Mistral Air was established in 1981 by actor and former swimmer [[Bud Spencer]] (Carlo Pedersoli) and started operations in 1984.
Mistral Air was established in 1981 by actor and former swimmer [[Bud Spencer]] (Carlo Pedersoli) and started operations in 1984.
It was wholly owned by [[TNT N.V.]]<ref name=”FI”/> until March 2002 when TNT sold a 75% stake to [[Poste Italiane]]. The airline has also been contracted by the [[Holy See]] of the [[Vatican City|Vatican]] to fly [[Pilgrims]] to holy sites such as [[Lourdes]], [[Fátima, Portugal|Fátima]], [[Santiago de Compostela]], [[Medjugorje]] near [[Mostar International Airport|Mostar]], Israel/Palestine (Holy Land), Poland and Mexico. The first flight went from Rome to Lourdes on 27 August 2007 transporting the vicar of Rome, Cardinal [[Camillo Ruini]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6965124.stm| title=Vatican flight service launches| first=David| last=Willey| date=2007-08-27| publisher=BBC News| access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref>
It was wholly owned by [[TNT N.V.]]<ref name=”FI”/> until March 2002 when TNT sold a 75% stake to [[Poste Italiane]]. The airline has also been contracted by the [[Holy See]] of the [[Vatican City|Vatican]] to fly [[Pilgrims]] to holy sites such as [[Lourdes]], [[Fátima, Portugal|Fátima]], [[Santiago de Compostela]], [[Medjugorje]] near [[Mostar International Airport|Mostar]], Israel/Palestine (Holy Land), Poland and Mexico. The first flight from Rome to Lourdes on 27 August 2007 transporting the vicar of Rome, Cardinal [[Camillo Ruini]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/6965124.stm| title=Vatican flight service launches| first=David| last=Willey| date=2007-08-27| publisher=BBC News| access-date=2016-06-28}}</ref>
In May 2018, owner [[Poste Italiane]] announced that Mistral Air will cease all scheduled and charter passenger flights to focus on cargo operations from now on. The airline has been loss-making for years and recently lost a [[Public service obligation|PSO]] contract for Italian domestic services as well.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ttgitalia.com/stories/trasporti/143055_il_piano_mistral_air_charter_addio_non_resta_che_il_cargo/ |title = Il piano Mistral Air Charter addio, non resta che il cargo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/bud-spencer-airline-fliegt-nur-noch-pakete | title=Mistral Air: Bud-Spencer-Airline fliegt nur noch Pakete| date=3 June 2018}}</ref>
In May 2018, owner [[Poste Italiane]] announced that Mistral Air will cease all scheduled and charter passenger flights to focus on cargo operations from now on. The airline has been loss-making for years and recently lost a [[Public service obligation|PSO]] contract for Italian domestic services as well.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.ttgitalia.com/stories/trasporti/143055_il_piano_mistral_air_charter_addio_non_resta_che_il_cargo/ |title = Il piano Mistral Air Charter addio, non resta che il cargo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.aerotelegraph.com/bud-spencer-airline-fliegt-nur-noch-pakete | title=Mistral Air: Bud-Spencer-Airline fliegt nur noch Pakete| date=3 June 2018}}</ref>
[[File:Mistral_Air_at_Naples_Airport.jpg|thumb|right|An [[ATR 72-500]] at [[Naples International Airport|Naples Airport]] in the last Mistral Air livery]]
[[File:Mistral_Air_at_Naples_Airport.jpg|thumb|right|An [[ATR 72-500]] at [[Naples International Airport|Naples Airport]] in the last Mistral Air livery]]
Since 1 October 2019, Mistral Air was rebranded in Poste Air Cargo.
1 October 2019, Mistral Air was rebranded Poste Air Cargo.
== Destinations ==
== Destinations ==
Italian airline
Poste Air Cargo, named Mistral Air until 30 September 2019, is an Italian cargo and former passenger airline headquartered in Rome[3] and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Poste italiane. Its hubs are Brescia Airport and Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome.[4] The airline used to serve domestic scheduled and international charter passenger services which it ceased in mid 2018 while focusing on cargo operations since then.
Mistral Air was established in 1981 by actor and former swimmer Bud Spencer (Carlo Pedersoli) and started operations in 1984.
It was wholly owned by TNT N.V.[4] until March 2002 when TNT sold a 75% stake to Poste Italiane. The airline has also been contracted by the Holy See of the Vatican to fly Pilgrims to holy sites such as Lourdes, Fátima, Santiago de Compostela, Medjugorje near Mostar, Israel/Palestine (Holy Land), Poland and Mexico. The first flight was from Rome to Lourdes on 27 August 2007 transporting the vicar of Rome, Cardinal Camillo Ruini.[5]
In May 2018, owner Poste Italiane announced that Mistral Air will cease all scheduled and charter passenger flights to focus on cargo operations from now on. The airline has been loss-making for years and recently lost a PSO contract for Italian domestic services as well.[6][7]
In 1 October 2019, Mistral Air was rebranded as Poste Air Cargo.
As of April 2021, Poste Air Cargo operates scheduled cargo flights to the following domestic destinations as well as 8 international services from their hub in Rome:[8]
Latest passenger destinations served by Mistral Air brand were Cagliari, Catania, Naples, Palermo, Perugia, Brescia and Pescara in Italy as well as Tirana in Albania which all ceased by August 2018.
As of August 2025[update], Poste Air Cargo operates the following aircraft:[9]
Media related to Poste Air Cargo at Wikimedia Commons
