ARA

ARA, officially Royal Aranese Aviation (Aviation Royale Aranaise), also marketed as Société A.R.A. is an airline in the Aranese Community. The airline is headquartered in the Eilas District of Bordeaux, in Aquitania.

Société A.R.A. was established in 1954 and became the official national airline of the Estat Aranés. The airline was the target of harsh international sanctions and boycotts, and ceased operations in 1973 before being relaunched in 1982. ARA is the second largest Aranese airline, with 30.2% market share, and the second largest by operating revenue. ARA merged with the Toulouse-based Air Occitania on 17 June 2010, forming a new company called Air Occitania-ARA. Former ARA shareholders own 81% of the company (44% by the Aquitanian Community, and 32% by private shareholders), while former Air Occitania shareholders maintain the rest.

The name "ARA" has is a polysemy, being named after the constellation Ara, which is Latin for "the altar". The term has significance in Greek mythology, as Ara was identified as the altar where the gods first made offerings and formed an alliance before defeating the Titans. In Chinese astronomy, the stars of the constellation Ara lie within The Azure Dragon of the East.