Flybywire44
Flies With The Hat On
- Joined
- Mar 31, 2006
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Mesa hints at bankruptcy
Friday May 23, 2008 Mesa Air Group said yesterday that if Delta Air Lines succeeds in ending its service agreement for 34 ERJ-145s, MAG may have to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as the loss of business and the resulting cash crunch would make it impossible for the regional to continue operations.
The carrier said in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission that it would seek protection "available under US reorganization laws in order to avoid or delay actions by its lessors, creditors and codeshare partners which would materially adversely affect the company's ability to continue as a going concern."
Mesa said it expects to lose $20 million per month in revenue, or $960 million over the next four years, if the DL contract is terminated and that it would have difficulty redeploying the ERJs "in a timely manner." In addition, it would incur $250-$300 million in labor and leasing costs during the period.
Delta notified MAG in late March that it would terminate its agreement with Mesa subsidiary Freedom Airlines, claiming that it failed to meet specified completion rates (ATWOnline, April 3). Mesa denied the charge and filed a breach of contract lawsuit asking for a preliminary injunction to prevent what it considered "wrongful termination" of the agreement. A hearing is scheduled May 27-29 with a ruling expected at the end of the proceedings.
by Sandra Arnoult
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