Assessment: Flight with SkyAlps to the Dolomites

Wednesday newsletters at all times function a lodge or flight assessment.

Final month, I spent a stunning weekend in Italy’s Dolomites, one of many world’s most spectacular mountain ranges. You’ll be able to learn my journey experiences right here:

• Assessment: Skyalps Sprint DHC-8 Q400 from Antwerp to Bolzano (right this moment)
• Assessment: 5-star COMO Alpina Dolomites

Assessment: Skyalps Sprint DHC-8 Q400 flight from Antwerp to Bolzano

I lately flew with SkyAlps, a small Italian airline that the majority vacationers have in all probability by no means heard of, on a brief hop from Antwerp (Belgium) to Bolzano, within the coronary heart of the Dolomites. SkyAlps is a boutique regional airline that focuses on connecting smaller airports on to Bolzano, making it one of many few choices for reaching the Dolomites with out passing via a significant hub. My expertise with SkyAlps was very optimistic: the airport expertise was easy, with nearly no ready time; the flight was brief, on time, and environment friendly; and the onboard service included some considerate regional touches. The spotlight of the journey, nevertheless, was the unbelievable view of the Alps and the spectacular touchdown in Bolzano, extensively thought of one of the vital lovely landings on this planet.

Have you ever ever flown with SkyAlps? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

• Journey: Antwerp (ANR) to Bolzano (BZO)
• Airline: Skyalps
• Plane kind: DASH DHC-8 Q400
• On time departure: sure (12 pm)
• On time arrival: sure (13:45 pm)
• Miles: 52.3 miles (727.9 kilometers
• Flight time: 1 hour and 45 minutes
• Seat: 1A
• Class: Economic system Class

I made a YouTube video with impressions throughout this flight, which you’ll be able to watch under. The video contains jaw-dropping views of the Alps.

I’ll focus on the next subjects on this assessment of my flight with SkyAlps:

1. About SkyAlps
2. Antwerp Airport
3. The DASH DHC-8 Q400 expertise
4. Onboard service
5. Scenic views and touchdown at Bolzano

1. About SkyAlps

SkyAlps is a regional airline based mostly in Bolzano, Italy, based within the early 2020s with the purpose of re-establishing scheduled air connections to and from the Dolomites. The airline focuses on linking smaller airports on to Bolzano, providing vacationers a direct gateway to the Dolomites. Different close by airports, resembling Innsbruck, Venice, or Milan, are farther away and normally require a two- to three-hour floor switch to achieve the mountains.

SkyAlps serves locations throughout Italy and components of Europe, together with Germany, the UK, and Scandinavia. The airline primarily operates a fleet of De Havilland Canada Sprint 8-400 turboprops. These plane are well-suited for short-haul regional flights: they’re fuel-efficient, comparatively quiet, and able to working from shorter runways, making them ideally suited for airports resembling Bolzano.

In its early operations, some SkyAlps flights had been operated by Luxwing, a Malta-based regional service, below partnership agreements. This association helped SkyAlps keep service and set up routes whereas constructing its personal fleet and crew. In January 2023, SkyAlps obtained its personal Italian Air Operator Certificates (AOC), granting the airline full independence to function flights with its personal plane. Some flights are nonetheless operated by Luxwing, relying on scheduling and operational wants.

2. Antwerp Airport

My flight took off from Antwerp Worldwide Airport, a small regional airport positioned within the Belgian metropolis of Antwerp. Antwerp Worldwide Airport has been serving business flights, enterprise jets, and basic aviation since 1923. In contrast with bigger hubs resembling Brussels or Amsterdam, the airport feels quiet and simple to navigate. Test-in, safety, and boarding had been all very fast, and the only terminal makes it potential to stroll from the curb to the gate in only a few minutes.

The airport has only some scheduled flights per day — round three on most days — which may make you surprise how such operations are sustainable. Facilities are restricted however purposeful, together with one café and a seating space, and the general environment is relaxed and simple. The runway, at roughly 1,500 meters (about 4,921 ft), can solely accommodate smaller plane resembling regional jets and turboprops, which fits flights like Antwerp to Bolzano completely.

Antwerp Worldwide Airport

Antwerp Worldwide Airport

Antwerp Worldwide Airport

Antwerp Worldwide Airport

3. The Sprint DHC-8 Q400 expertise

All the SkyAlps fleet consists of recent, quiet, and compact regional plane, all of them Sprint DHC-8-Q400 turboprops. Every SkyAlps Sprint DHC-8-Q400 can accommodate as much as 76 passengers in a single-cabin financial system format, with seats organized in a 2-2 format. The seating is straightforward however snug for brief flights, and enormous home windows present glorious views of the landscapes under.

The Sprint 8-400 is especially well-suited for operations at airports with brief runways, like Bolzano, because of its glorious short-field efficiency. It’s powered by two Pratt & Whitney PW150A turboprop engines, which permit the plane to cruise at speeds of as much as 667 km/h (roughly 360 knots) whereas sustaining gasoline effectivity and decrease emissions in contrast with regional jets. The plane additionally has a service ceiling of round 25,000 ft (7,620 meters) and a spread of roughly 2,500 km (1,350 nautical miles), making it versatile for European regional routes.

One of many benefits of the Sprint 8-400 is that it usually flies at a decrease altitude than regional jets. This implies passengers get a more in-depth, extra detailed view of the Alps throughout the flight, making the method into Bolzano particularly scenic. The distinctive propeller hum provides character to the journey and is quieter than older turboprops, producing much less noise throughout takeoff and touchdown.

SkyAlps De Havilland Sprint 8-Q400 cabin

SkyAlps De Havilland Sprint 8-Q400 cabin

SkyAlps De Havilland Sprint 8-Q400 cabin

SkyAlps De Havilland Sprint 8-Q400 cabin

4. Onboard service

The service shouldn’t be a full meal providing, but it surely gives a easy and pleasurable addition to the flight. Passengers are supplied a number of snacks and drinks, together with regional merchandise from South Tyrol:

• A rotating number of 4 DOC wines is obtainable every month, all produced solely in South Tyrol. The “Alto Adige DOC” designation ensures licensed origin and high quality, with a alternative of regional reds and whites.
• Beer lovers can strive Forst 1857, a lightweight, golden lager with delicate floral hop notes, or its non-alcoholic model, Forst 0.0, brewed in Algund since 1857.
• For individuals who want spirits, Roner Gin Z44 is served, a dry gin highlighting juniper with gentle hints of alpine herbs and stone pine.
• A non-alcoholic different can also be obtainable. Pink Moon 99.6 Glowing, a non-alcoholic apple aperitif produced in Bolzano, presents a gently glowing fruity drink with no added sugar or preservatives.
• Tender drinks embrace Meraner Mineralwasser nonetheless and glowing, Limestone natural tonic water in a number of flavors, and Leni’s apple juices constructed from domestically pressed apples.
• Espresso is provided by Alps Espresso, a South Tyrolean model recognized for slow-roasted beans and clear, nuanced flavors.
• Snacks vary from Loacker wafers and Ultner Schüttelbrot, a skinny, crunchy rye bread, to seasonal yogurt from Mila or Latteria Vipiteno, and Froomy natural fruit purées.
• Tea and natural infusions from Pompadour are additionally obtainable, together with South Tyrolean mountain herb blends.

Hand sanitizing wipe

Inflight journal

Inflight journal

Inflight journal

Snacks

Snacks

Snacks

5. Scenic views and touchdown at Bolzano

The method to Bolzano is likely one of the most memorable components of the flight. Because the plane descends, the proximity to the mountains provides a way of drama and pleasure, giving an actual sense of arrival within the coronary heart of the Dolomites.

Bolzano Airport has a comparatively brief runway—slightly below 1,400 meters (round 4,600 ft)—and is surrounded by mountains, which requires exact dealing with by the pilots. The plane should observe a rigorously deliberate method path, typically utilizing steeper descent angles than at bigger airports. The Sprint 8-400’s sturdy short-field efficiency and maneuverability make it well-suited to this sort of touchdown.

Views throughout cruise

Views throughout cruise

Views throughout touchdown

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