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.
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. Airline Date Bankruptcy filedNational Florida AirlinesNational Florida Airlines - Sunshine Skies. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.sunshineskies.com/nfa.htmlDecember 1, 1983ExcellairJuly 7, 1984Oceanaire LinesFebruary 10, 1984ConnectaireOctober 10, 1984Princeton Air LinkAugust 11, 1988Air KentuckyJuly 19, 1989Eastern Air LinesJanuary 18, 1991Northcoast ExecutiveJanuary 29, 1991Midway Airlines (1976-1991)November 27, 1991L’ExpressFebruary 2, 1992Eastwind AirlinesSeptember 30, 1999Midway Airlines (1993-2003)October 30, 2003Southeast AirlinesDecember 1, 2004TransMeridian AirlinesSeptember 29, 2005Big SkyJanuary 7, 2008Aloha AirlinesMarch 31, 2008Air MidwestMay 14, 2008Gemini Air CargoAugust 12, 2008Independence Air January 6, 2009ComairApril 4, 2012Direct AirApril 12, 2012Evergreen International AirlinesDecember 31, 2013Spirit AirlinesMay 2, 2026
Chapter 11 This is a list of airlines that have filed for bankruptcy protection via Chapter 11 in the United States.
Airline Date Bankruptcy filed Date Exited BankruptcyNotesAmerican Trans Air (ATA)2008-04-02April 2, 2008Ceased operationsNew York Airways1979-05-18May 18, 1979Ceased operationsAeroamerica1979-11-19November 19, 1979Ceased operationsFlorida Airlines1980-01-24January 24, 1980Ceased operationsIndiana Airlines1980-03-03March 3, 1980Air Bahia1980-12-15December 15, 1980Ceased operationsTejas Airlines1980-12-31December 31, 1980Ceased OperationsTejas Airlines: Where Did It Go? — Civil Aviation Forum | Airliners.net. Retrieved from http://www.airliners.net/aviation-forums/general_aviation/read.main/5130319/Mountain West Airlines-Idaho1981-03-06March 6, 1981Ceased operationsLANICA1981-03-16March 16, 1981Nicaraguan airline; ceased operationsCoral Air1981-07-13July 13, 1981Pacific Coast Airlines1981-09-11September 11, 1981Swift Aire Lines1981-09-18September 18, 1981Ceased operations (Charter flights)Golden Gate Airlines1981-10-09October 9, 1981Ceased operationsPinehurst Airlines1982-01-26January 26, 1982Silver State Airlines1982-03-03March 3, 1982Air Pennsylvania1982-03-26March 26, 1982Ceased operationsAir South1982-04-02April 2, 1982Cochise Airlines1982-04-16April 16, 1982Ceased operationsBraniff International1982-05-13May 13, 1982Ceased operationsAstec Air East1982-07-08July 8, 1982Will's Air1982-08-19August 19, 1982Aero Sun International1982-10-15October 15, 1982Aero Virgin Islands1982-10-19October 19, 1982Ceased operations (in 1990)Altair Airlines1982-11-09November 9, 1982Ceased operationsContinental Airlines1983-09-23September 23, 19831986-06-30June 30, 1986Emerged after merger with PEOPLExpress, Frontier Airlines, and New York Air. (merged with United Airlines on March 3 2012)Frontier Airlines1986-08-26August 28, 1986Ceased operationsEastern Airlines1989-03-09March 9, 1989Ceased operationsPartnair1989-10-01October 1, 1989Norwegian airline; ceased operationsPan American World Airways1991-01-08January 8, 1991Ceased operations; Most assets purchased by Delta Air LinesAmerica West Airlines1991-06-28June 28, 19911994-08-26August 26, 1994Merged with US Airways in 2005Sun Country Airlines2002-01January 20022003InvoluntaryNational Airlines2000-12-06December 6, 2000Ceased operations on November 6, 2002Trans World Airlines2001-01-10January 10, 2001, also 1992 and 1995Filed as part of an acquisition by American AirlinesUS Airways2002-08-11August 11, 20022003-03-31March 31, 2003United Airlines2002-12-09December 9, 20022006-02-01February 1, 2006Air Canada2003-04-01April 1, 20032004-09-30September 30, 2004Canadian airlineFlash Airlines2004-03-01March 1, 2004Ceased operationsUS Airways2004-09-12September 12, 20042005-09-27September 27, 2005Second filing and last before merging with American Airlines on oct 17 2015. Emerges in conjunction with its acquisition by America West Avianca2004-12-10March 21, 2003
May 10, 2020December 10, 2004
December 1, 2021Colombian airlineAloha Airlines2004-12-30December 30, 20042006-02-17February 17, 2006Cargo division continued flying as Aloha Air CargoNorthwest Airlines2005-09-14September 14, 20052007-05-31May 31, 2007Ceased Operations; Merged with Delta Air LinesDelta Air Lines2005-09-14September 14, 20052007-04-30April 30, 2007Included subsidiary ComairMaxjet Airways2007-12-26December 26, 2007Ceased operationsAloha Airlines2008-03-31March 31, 2008Second filing; ceased passenger operationsATA Airlines2008-04-03April 3, 2008Ceased operationsSkybus Airlines2008-04-05April 5, 2008Ceased operationsFrontier Airlines2008-04-10April 10, 20082009-10-01October 1, 2009Eos Airlines2008-08-26August 26, 2008Ceased operationsSun Country Airlines2008-10-06October 6, 20082011-02-23February 23, 2011Second bankruptcyPrimaris Airlines2008-10-15October 15, 2008Ceased operationsMesa Airlines2010-01-05January 5, 20102011-03-11March 11, 2011Arrow Air2010-07-01July 1, 2010Ceased operations and liquidatedMexicana2010-08-28August 28, 2010Mexican airline; ceased operationsAmerican Airlines2011-11-29November 29, 20112013-12-08December 8, 2013Emerged from bankruptcy as American Airlines Group; includes parent company AMR Corporation and subsidiary American Eagle AirlinesRyan International Airlines2012-03-06March 6, 2012Ceased operationsPinnacle Airlines2012-04-02April 2, 20122013-05-01May 1, 2013Emerged as subsidiary of Delta Air Lines; name changed to Endeavor AirSouthern Air2012-09-28September 28, 2012SeaPort Airlines2016-02-05February 5, 2016Republic Airways Holding2016-02-25February 25, 2016PenAir2017-08-07August 7, 2017Ceases operations in Denver and PortlandDynamic International Airways2017-07-19July 19, 2017Island Air (Hawaii)2017-10-16October 16, 2017Ceased operationsMiami AirMiami Air International files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection| Aeronewsx. Retrieved from https://www.aeronewsx.com/post/miami-air-international-files-for-chapter-11-bankruptcy-protection2020-03-25March 25, 2020Ceased operationsRavn Alaska2020-04-05April 5, 2020LATAM Airlines Group2020-05-26May 26, 20202022-11-03November 3, 2022Chilean airline holding group; included all subsidiariesSpirit Airlines2020-04-05December 15, 2024Ceased operations and filed for chapter 7 liquidation on May 2, 2026
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