Very good point Albert.
Cyrus may argue that they pumped a lot of money in an want some of it back, but it was presumably they who were insisting on the charade of flying empty aircraft around just to preserve slots. The actual frontline managers might have been able to achieve more and get it up and running as a proper regional airline flying more appropriate routes has they not had aircraft crew and resources tied up on the "other" project.
Interpath would have know that this was going on and must have known that staff were being deceived. Even days before collapse there were announcements going out about freshly secured staff travel deals. Not the sort of thing that a company going down the tubes would be worried about. Everyone knew it was risky but there was a very good deception going on to suggest normality. All done under the noses of Interpath.
Asturias. I agree, and take you r point about trying to keep it normal and hoping it will come good. Without Covid, Mk one under Virgin connect might just have survived a near death experience. There were a few of those on the way.
The sad thing is that I hear one or two of their normal routes were actually starting to do well.