Airlines Darwin Airline files for insolvency

  • Darwin Airline

The Switzerland-based carrier Darwin Airline has filed for insolvency and for a moratorium, which is similar to the U.S-American chapter 11, on November 28, 2017.

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In a press release by the Swiss aviation authorities it was stated, that the airline loses its permit to operate own flights, as a consequence. According to the statement Darwin Airline is still allowed to operate flights on behalf of third party airlines.

The service of Darwin Airline between Geneva and Lugano will be discontinued. Moreover, the airline still has the opportunity to show a proof of financial stability, to regain its permission to operate.

The insolvency follows the news of Darwin Airline CEO Klaus Platzer, who said in an interview that there will be no scheduled flights from January 1, 2018. Darwin Airline would have had to make an investment of EUR 1 Mio. to keep up the regular services.

Darwin Airline commenced operations in 2003. In 2013, Etihad Airways bought a 33,3% stake in the regional carrier and rebranded it as Etihad Regional. The carrier operated flights for the two European Etihad partner airlines AirBerlin and Alitalia as well as own flights from Lugano and Geneva. In the following years several connections were terminated. The cooperation with AirBerlin ended in 2016.

In July 2017 Darwin Airline was bought by the holding company 4K Invest that owns the Slovenian carrier Adria Airways. Darwin Airline was rebranded and operates all flights as Adria Airways Switzerland.

Adria Airways is the largest airline in Slovenia. The carrier with a fleet of 3 Airbus A319, 3 Bombardier CRJ700 and 7 CRJ900 operates scheduled flights from its primary hub Ljubljana as well as Tirana and Pristina. In addition to the scheduled flights, the Star Alliance member offers charter and ad hoc flights. Two CRJ900 aircraft are currently leased to Austrian Airlines.

Source © bazl.ch

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