Vatican launches charter airline
Aug. 27, 2007

VATICAN CITY, Aug. 27 (UPI) -- The Vatican's new airline got off the ground Monday with plans to fly 150,000 pilgrims a year to shrines in Europe and the Middle East.

Mistral Air officials said they plan to fly Roman Catholic pilgrims to shrines in France, Poland, Spain and the Middle East and later add Mexico to the schedule, BBC News reported.

Mistral Air officially opened Monday with the first flight planned from Rome to Lourdes in France with a senior Vatican cardinal aboard to inaugurate the low-cost charter service, the BBC said.

Mistral Air has signed a five-year agreement with travel agencies who book pilgrimages for the Diocese of Rome. The Vatican is leasing two passenger jets painted in the Vatican colors of yellow and white.

The planes' interiors are decorated with biblical sayings such as, "I search for your face, Lord." link