Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways has filed for bankruptcy, after financial pressures led to days of disruption to its flight schedule. The airline says it has filed with the Carniola district court. Adria had been planning to operate several services on 30 September, having been largely inactive for the past week, but the official departure information for Ljubljana airport shows its flights have been cancelled. "Bankruptcy proceedings were filed by the management of the company due to the company's insolvency," the airline says. The court has three days to decide on the opening of bankruptcy proceedings. Adria also confirms that it will halt all scheduled flights as a result of the bankruptcy petition. It had been ordered on 30 September to stop using another Bombardier CRJ900 in its fleet following termination of the lease.

Source: FlightGlobal

French authorities are offering support to personnel of carrier Aigle Azur after a court decision to liquidate the troubled airline. Aigle Azur cancelled all flights on 7 September, having been put under creditor protection a few days earlier, and has since been the subjected of investment and acquisition proposals. But none of the proposals impressed the company's administrators. The airline operated mainly from Paris Orly to destinations primarily in Europe and Africa, using a fleet of Airbus A330s and A320s. France's transport secretary Jean-Baptiste Djebbari states that Aigle Azur had been given its "best chance" to secure a recovery proposal through the cancellation of "several million euros" in social and tax debt. But following a final decision of the commercial court in Evry, says the French ministry of ecological and solidarity transition, no offer for the carrier was considered to permit a successful recovery of the airline. "Special support will be provided for the Aigle Azur personnel to ensure a quicker return to employment," the ministry adds, including offers of training.

Source: FlightGlobal

Slovenia's prime minister has hinted at a possible new carrier to replace Adria Airways, while refusing to offer financial support to the troubled airline as long as it remains under its current ownership. Adria Airways is aiming to restore some of its depleted network on 30 September, having spent much of the last few day only operating its Frankfurt service. "All eyes are on the Slovenian government with the expectation that it will save the company," says prime minister Marjan Sarec. But he insists that the state will not give financial assistance to the company "under any circumstances" while it retains its present owners because, he believes, "they would throw money away" – although he points out that legislation would prevent such aid in any case. Slovenia's government has previously provided support to the carrier which was privatised three years ago when it was sold to a German investment fund. Sarec, speaking through his official social media feed, says he will not comment on whether the sale was appropriate."Crying won't help us much," he says. "[Adria] was sold because it was in bad shape. It was screwed up long ago." While he claims that the Adria situation suggests the country is viewed as a "dairy cow, from which it is necessary to squeeze the last cent", Sarec says the government is looking as options for the future. It has not reached any decision but Sarec indicates that the possibilities include "setting up a new company" or "providing connectivity with other carriers". "Although we expect difficulties, the aim is to maintain Slovenia's connection with the world, especially for tourism," he says, adding that the country is due to take over the presidency of the Council of the European Union in the second half of 2021. Slovenian social democrat party SD senior representative Matjaz Han has argued that the government must immediately rescue Adria Airways. "The existing owner does not trust us," he says. "So we oppose solutions that maintain the current ownership of the company. Adria therefore needs a new owner immediately." Han claims that this is the only step which allows further measures to be taken to rescue the company, and maintain Slovenian links with key destinations.

Source: FlightGlobal