Airline bankruptcies in the United States
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 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.
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]
Airline | Date Bankruptcy filed | Notes |
---|---|---|
National Florida Airlines[2] | December 1, 1983 | Ceased operations |
Evergreen International Airlines | December 31, 2013 | Ceased operations |
Chapter 11
This is a list of airlines that have filed for bankruptcy protection via Chapter 11 in the United States.[3][4]
Airline | Date Bankruptcy filed | Date Exited Bankruptcy | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
New York Airways | May 18, 1979 | Ceased operations | |
Aeroamerica | November 19, 1979 | Ceased operations | |
Florida Airlines | January 24, 1980 | Ceased operations | |
Indiana Airlines | March 3, 1980 | ||
Air Bahia | December 15, 1980 | Ceased operations | |
Tejas Airlines | December 31, 1980 | Ceased Operations [5] | |
Mountain West Airlines-Idaho | March 6, 1981 | Ceased operations | |
LANICA | March 16, 1981 | Nicaraguan airline; ceased operations | |
Coral Air | July 13, 1981 | ||
Pacific Coast Airlines | September 11, 1981 | ||
Swift Aire Lines | September 18, 1981 | Ceased operations | |
Golden Gate Airlines | October 9, 1981 | Ceased operations | |
Pinehurst Airlines | January 26, 1982 | ||
Silver State Airlines | March 3, 1982 | ||
Air Pennsylvania | March 26, 1982 | Ceased operations | |
Air South | April 2, 1982 | ||
Cochise Airlines | April 16, 1982 | Ceased operations | |
Braniff International | May 13, 1982 | Ceased operations | |
Astec Air East | July 8, 1982 | ||
Will's Air | August 19, 1982 | ||
Aero Sun International | October 15, 1982 | ||
Aero Virgin Islands | October 19, 1982 | Ceased operations | |
Altair Airlines | November 9, 1982 | Ceased operations | |
Continental Airlines | September 23, 1983 | June 30, 1986 | Ceased operations |
Frontier Airlines | August 28, 1986 | Ceased operations | |
Eastern Airlines | March 9, 1989 | Ceased operations | |
Partnair | October 1, 1989 | Norwegian airline; ceased operations | |
Pan American World Airways | January 8, 1991 | Ceased operations; Most assets purchased by Delta Air Lines | |
America West Airlines | June 28, 1991 | August 26, 1994 | Ceased operations [6][7] |
Sun Country Airlines | January, 2002 | 2003 | Involuntary |
National Airlines | December 6, 2000 | Ceased operations on November 6, 2002 | |
Trans World Airlines | January 10, 2001 | Filed as part of an acquisition by American Airlines | |
US Airways | August 11, 2002 | March 31, 2003 | |
United Airlines | December 9, 2002 | February 1, 2006 | |
Air Canada | April 1, 2003 | September 30, 2004 | Canadian airline |
Flash Airlines | March 1, 2004 | Ceased operations | |
US Airways | September 12, 2004 | September 27, 2005 | Second filing, emerges in conjunction with its acquisition by America West |
Aloha Airlines | December 30, 2004 | February 17, 2006 | Cargo division continued flying as Aloha Air Cargo |
Northwest Airlines | September 14, 2005 | May 31, 2007 | Ceased Operations; Merged with Delta Air Lines |
Delta Air Lines | September 14, 2005 | April 30, 2007 | Included subsidiary Comair |
Maxjet Airways | December 26, 2007 | Ceased operations | |
Aloha Airlines | March 31, 2008 | Second filing; ceased passenger operations | |
ATA Airlines | April 3, 2008 | Ceased operations | |
Skybus Airlines | April 5, 2008 | Ceased operations | |
Frontier Airlines | April 10, 2008 | October 1, 2009 | |
Eos Airlines | August 26, 2008 | Ceased operations | |
Sun Country Airlines | October 6, 2008 | February 23, 2011 | Second bankruptcy |
Primaris Airlines | October 15, 2008 | Ceased operations | |
Mesa Airlines | January 5, 2010 | March 11, 2011 | |
Arrow Air | July 1, 2010 | Ceased operations and liquidated | |
Mexicana | August 28, 2010 | Mexican airline; ceased operations | |
American Airlines | November 29, 2011 | December 8, 2013 | Emerged from bankruptcy as American Airlines Group; includes parent company AMR Corporation and subsidiary American Eagle Airlines |
Pinnacle Airlines | April 2, 2012 | May 1, 2013 | Emerged as subsidiary of Delta Air Lines; name changed to Endeavor Air |
References
- ↑ "List of Airline Bankruptcies Since Deregulation". Associated Press. Nov 29, 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ↑ National Florida Airlines - Sunshine Skies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sunshineskies.com/nfa.html
- ↑ "List of Airline Bankruptcies Since". Associated Press. Nov 29, 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
- ↑ http://www.airlines.org/economics/specialtopics/USAirlineBankruptcies.htm
- ↑ Tejas Airlines: Where Did It Go? — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net. Retrieved from http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5130319/
- ↑ "America West Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". LA Times. Aug 26, 1994. Retrieved 26 Aug 1994. Check date values in:
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(help) - ↑ "America West Emerges From Bankruptcy". New York Times. June 28, 1991. Retrieved 28 June 1991. Check date values in:
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(help)