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

  1. ↑ "List of Airline Bankruptcies Since Deregulation". Associated Press. Nov 29, 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  2. ↑ National Florida Airlines - Sunshine Skies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sunshineskies.com/nfa.html
  3. ↑ "List of Airline Bankruptcies Since". Associated Press. Nov 29, 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2012.
  4. ↑ http://www.airlines.org/economics/specialtopics/USAirlineBankruptcies.htm
  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. ↑ "America West Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy". LA Times. Aug 26, 1994. Retrieved 26 Aug 1994. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  7. ↑ "America West Emerges From Bankruptcy". New York Times. June 28, 1991. Retrieved 28 June 1991. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
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