Sweden's newly-formed transport authority has revoked the operating licence of carrier Nordic Airways after the company ran into financial problems.
It says Nordic Airways has had financial difficulties "for some time" and points out that the carrier filed for restructuring last October. Later that month Swedish authorities gave the airline a temporary operating licence, valid until 15 February this year.
"Since then Stockholm's district court has rejected the company's request for an extension of this restructuring," says the transport authority.
Nordic Airways, which operates out of Stockholm Arlanda, uses Boeing MD-80 aircraft on wet-lease and charter contracts.
It joins Lithuanian carrier FlyLAL and Zambian Airlines as early airline casualties of 2009. FlyLAL recently announced it was to cease operations after a deal with new Swiss investors broke down, while Zambian Airways early in January suspended operations until further notice.
It follows a year of high profile airline collapses in 2008 amid high fuel prices, the financial crisis and the economic slowdown. Here is a round-up of some of the major airlines that have collapsed or ceased operations since the start of 2008.
2009
Nordic Airways - Swedish wet-lease operator
Zambian Airways - Zambian carrier
2008
ALMA - Mexican regional carrier
Sterling Airlines - Danish low-cost carrier
XL Airways - UK leisure carrier
Futura International Airways - Spanish leisure carrier
Zoom Airlines - Canadian low-cost transatlantic carrier
Silverjet - UK all-premium carrier
Oasis Hong Kong - Hong Kong-based long-haul, low-cost carrier
ATA Airlines - US low-cost carrier
Source: Airline Business
