It ain't right, it ain't decent. Privately-held Gemini Air Cargo quietly ceased operations on 12 August without providing its customers with any sort of advance notice.
The firm has issued an online statement explaining that the closure was prompted by its inability to find a buyer during Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, its second such restructuring in two years.
"Accordingly, we were not in a position to provide our customers with advance notice. We regret the inconvenience and the impact this has caused," says Gemini, while adding that as of 29 August, it will no longer receive or respond to any inquiries via telephone.
Conveniently, Gemini has removed its telephone number (703-260-8100) from the web site, and is directing folks to claims information and bankruptcy court documents.
Talk about bowing out ungracefully!
Flight's premium sister publication Air Transport Intelligence on 13 August broke the story that Gemini had shuttered its doors. But the article was based on well-informed sources, not Gemini management. Nobody at the company's Washington Dulles and Miami offices even bothered to pick up the phone. A staffer at Gemini's Belgium office refused to "confirm or deny" the closure. Hmmm, that's rather rich.
Gemini leases McDonnell Douglas MD-11 freighters and owns DC-10-30Fs, several of which are listed in storage in Flight's ACAS database. Let the liquidation process begin (and good luck with that).
on January 29, 2009 12:11 PM | Reply
Gemini is attempting to get back into the air as we speak (Jan 09), initially flying a single DC10-30F. Management staff is 2/3 old Gemini, plus a few senior management positions filled by the former Chief Pilot and Director of Operations from the now defunct MAXJET. Ironically-while the name hasn't been formally announced-it will be "Gemini Worldwide Airlines". Wonder what the twice bitten creditors will think about that (if in fact the FAA do allow them to go into operation).