(AP) – 8 hours ago
MADRID — Spain’s Development Ministry said Tuesday it had withdrawn the flying license for debt-stricken Air Comet, leaving thousands of Christmas travelers to Latin American destinations stranded at Madrid’s airport.
The airline, owned by Spanish tourism and transportation company Grupo Marsans, operates daily flights to Argentina, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador and Peru. Most of its flights are in and out of the Spanish capital
Development Minister Jose Blanco said alternative travel plans would be arranged for passengers affected.
The company employs 640 staff and has a fleet of 13 planes with some 1,500 passengers daily.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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Related Article:
Spanish Airline Air Comet Shuts Down
Dec 22, 2009
Source; Aviation Week
Jens Flottau jflottau@freenet.de
Spain’s long-haul leisure carrier Air Comet stopped flying today, stranding thousands of passengers at airports in Spain and Latin America.
The carrier’s fleet was impounded through a London court order that had been pursued by German HSH Nordbank. The Spanish government also has now withdrawn Comet’s operating license, saying the airline lacks the financial means to continue flying.
Air Comet is part of the Marsans travel group. It has focused on services between Spain and Latin America, with its main operating base in Madrid. HSH Nordbank says it owns the 13 aircraft operated by Air Comet, but has not received leasing payments from Air Comet recently. The bank pointed out that it offered the airline to operate the aircraft for some more days to be able to bring Christmas holidaymakers to their destinations. But according to the Spanish transport ministry, the airline did not even have enough money left to pay for fuel and fees.
Air Comet allegedly has not paid salaries and social security expenses for several months. The airline said it plans to lay off all 640 employees and file for bankruptcy.
The airline’s demise is the second of a European leisure carrier this month. Last week, Flyglobespan ceased operations. HSH Nordbank says it is in talks to remarket the aircraft with other airlines. Air Comet’s fleet consisted of Airbus A340-300s, A330-200s and two A320s for European services.
http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/story.jsp?id=news/COMET122209.xml&headline=Spanish%20Airline%20Air%20Comet%20Shuts%20Down&channel=comm
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