List of airline bankruptcies in the United States

Last updated

A number of major airlines have declared bankruptcy and have either ceased operations, or reorganized under bankruptcy protection. Airlines, like any business, are susceptible to market fluctuations and economic difficulties. The economic structure of the airline industry may contribute to airline bankruptcies as well. One major element in almost every airline bankruptcy is the rejection by the debtor of its current collective bargaining agreements with employees. After satisfying certain requirements, bankruptcy law permits courts to approve the rejection of labor contracts by the debtor-employer. With this tool, airline managers reduce costs. Terms of an employee contract negotiated over years can be eliminated in months through Chapter 11. Terms of the Railway Labor Act, amended in 1936 to cover airlines, prevent most labor union work actions before, during and after an airline bankruptcy.

Contents

Continental Airlines declared bankruptcy, Chapter 11, a second time in December 1990.

Timeline

This is a timeline of airlines who have filed for bankruptcy protection. Also see list of defunct airlines for a list of airlines which are no longer operating.

U.S. airlines bankruptcy filings

Chapter 7

This is a list of airlines that have filed for bankruptcy protection via Chapter 7 in the United States. [1] [2]

AirlineDate Bankruptcy filed
National Florida Airlines [3] December 1, 1983
ExcellairJuly 7, 1984
Oceanaire LinesFebruary 10, 1984
ConnectaireOctober 10, 1984
Princeton Air Link August 11, 1988
Air Kentucky July 19, 1989
Eastern Air Lines January 18, 1991
Northcoast Executive January 29, 1991
Midway Airlines (1976-1991) November 27, 1991
L’Express February 2, 1992
Eastwind Airlines September 30, 1999
Midway Airlines (1993-2003) October 30, 2003
Southeast Airlines December 1, 2004
TransMeridian Airlines September 29, 2005
Big Sky January 7, 2008
Aloha Airlines March 31, 2008
Air Midwest May 14, 2008
Gemini Air Cargo August 12, 2008
Independence Air January 6, 2009
Comair April 4, 2012
Direct Air April 12, 2012
Evergreen International Airlines December 31, 2013

Chapter 11

This is a list of airlines that have filed for bankruptcy protection via Chapter 11 in the United States. [2] [4]

AirlineDate Bankruptcy filedDate Exited BankruptcyNotes
American Trans Air (ATA) April 2, 2008Ceased operations
New York Airways May 18, 1979Ceased operations
Aeroamerica November 19, 1979Ceased operations
Florida Airlines January 24, 1980Ceased operations
Indiana Airlines March 3, 1980
Air Bahia December 15, 1980Ceased operations
Tejas Airlines December 31, 1980Ceased Operations [5]
Mountain West Airlines-Idaho March 6, 1981Ceased operations
LANICA March 16, 1981Nicaraguan airline; ceased operations
Coral Air July 13, 1981
Pacific Coast Airlines September 11, 1981
Swift Aire Lines September 18, 1981Ceased operations (Charter flights)
Golden Gate Airlines October 9, 1981Ceased operations
Pinehurst Airlines January 26, 1982
Silver State Airlines March 3, 1982
Air Pennsylvania March 26, 1982Ceased operations
Air South April 2, 1982
Cochise Airlines April 16, 1982Ceased operations
Braniff International May 13, 1982Ceased operations
Astec Air East July 8, 1982
Will's Air August 19, 1982
Aero Sun International October 15, 1982
Aero Virgin Islands October 19, 1982Ceased operations (in 1990)
Altair Airlines November 9, 1982Ceased operations
Continental Airlines September 23, 1983June 30, 1986Emerged after merger with PEOPLExpress, Frontier Airlines, and New York Air
Frontier Airlines August 28, 1986Ceased operations
Eastern Airlines March 9, 1989Ceased operations
Partnair October 1, 1989Norwegian airline; ceased operations
Pan American World Airways January 8, 1991Ceased operations; Most assets purchased by Delta Air Lines
America West Airlines June 28, 1991August 26, 1994Merged with US Airways in 2005
Sun Country Airlines January 20022003Involuntary
National Airlines December 6, 2000Ceased operations on November 6, 2002
Trans World Airlines January 10, 2001Filed as part of an acquisition by American Airlines
US Airways August 11, 2002March 31, 2003
United Airlines December 9, 2002February 1, 2006
Air Canada April 1, 2003September 30, 2004Canadian airline
Flash Airlines March 1, 2004Ceased operations
US Airways September 12, 2004September 27, 2005Second filing, emerges in conjunction with its acquisition by America West
Avianca March 21, 2003

May 10, 2020 [6]

December 10, 2004 [7]

December 1, 2021 [8]

Colombian airline
Aloha Airlines December 30, 2004February 17, 2006Cargo division continued flying as Aloha Air Cargo
Northwest Airlines September 14, 2005May 31, 2007Ceased Operations; Merged with Delta Air Lines
Delta Air Lines September 14, 2005April 30, 2007Included subsidiary Comair
Maxjet Airways December 26, 2007Ceased operations
Aloha Airlines March 31, 2008Second filing; ceased passenger operations
ATA Airlines April 3, 2008Ceased operations
Skybus Airlines April 5, 2008Ceased operations
Frontier Airlines April 10, 2008October 1, 2009
Eos Airlines August 26, 2008Ceased operations
Sun Country Airlines October 6, 2008February 23, 2011Second bankruptcy
Primaris Airlines October 15, 2008Ceased operations
Mesa Airlines January 5, 2010March 11, 2011
Arrow Air July 1, 2010Ceased operations and liquidated
Mexicana August 28, 2010Mexican airline; ceased operations
American Airlines November 29, 2011December 8, 2013Emerged from bankruptcy as American Airlines Group; includes parent company AMR Corporation and subsidiary American Eagle Airlines
Ryan International Airlines March 6, 2012Ceased operations
Pinnacle Airlines April 2, 2012May 1, 2013Emerged as subsidiary of Delta Air Lines; name changed to Endeavor Air
Southern Air September 28, 2012
SeaPort Airlines February 5, 2016
Republic Airways Holding February 25, 2016
PenAir August 7, 2017Ceases operations in Denver and Portland
Dynamic International Airways July 19, 2017
Island Air (Hawaii) October 16, 2017Ceased operations
Miami Air [9] March 25, 2020Ceased operations
Ravn Alaska April 5, 2020
Spirit Airlines December 15, 2024 [10] Second bankruptcy
LATAM Airlines Group May 26, 2020 [11] November 3, 2022 [12] Chilean airline holding group; included all subsidiaries

References

  1. ↑ "List of Airline Bankruptcies Since Deregulation". Associated Press. November 29, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Airlines For America | U.S. Bankruptcies and Services Cessations". airlines.org. Archived from the original on May 28, 2016. Retrieved May 12, 2016.
  3. ↑ National Florida Airlines - Sunshine Skies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sunshineskies.com/nfa.html
  4. ↑ "List of Airline Bankruptcies Since". Associated Press. November 29, 2011. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ Tejas Airlines: Where Did It Go? — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net. Retrieved from http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5130319/
  6. ↑ Gallón, Natalie, Maija Ehlinger and Michelle Toh (May 12, 2020). "Avianca, one of Latin America's largest airlines, files for bankruptcy". CNN. Retrieved May 13, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  7. ↑ Barab, Ronald (2005). "The Avianca Miracle". SGR Law. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Symmes Cobb, Julia (December 1, 2021). "Colombian airline Avianca says has completed bankruptcy process". Reuters. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  9. ↑ Miami Air International files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection| Aeronewsx. Retrieved from https://www.aeronewsx.com/post/miami-air-international-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection
  10. ↑ Isidore, Chris. "Spirit Airlines files for bankruptcy". cnn.com. cnn. Retrieved December 19, 2024.
  11. ↑ Ehlinger, Maija (May 26, 2020). "Latin America's largest airline, LATAM, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy". CNN. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
  12. ↑ Ramos, Natalia (October 15, 2022). "LATAM Airlines says it will exit bankruptcy on Nov. 3". Reuters. Retrieved November 10, 2022.
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