From Wednesday's Reuters:
05Mar2003 ALGERIA: Khalifa Airways spokesman denies bankruptcy reports.
Text of report by Algerian radio on 4 March
The spokesman for Khalifa Airways, Mr Hassas, has denied reports that the company was on the brink of bankruptcy following the decision by some international airlines to withdraw their aircraft from Khalifa's fleet. Mr Hassas gave these clarifications to our reporter Fatiha Aoumeur:
[Hassas - recording] There are rumours circulating in the country that Khalifa [Airways] is going to fold completely. This is a lie and [rest of sentence in French] I categorically deny these reports. Khalifa is continuing its activities and is still alive and will continue to exist in the future, God willing.
Some people are wondering whether there are flight schedules and whether some flights will be delayed or cancelled. I would like to inform the listeners in this respect that Khalifa's new schedule will be published tomorrow, God willing, in all the newspapers.
Others are also talking about the aircraft which have been withdrawn. Five aircraft, belonging to the Turkish company Pegasus, have been withdrawn because their schedule ended last February. In the meantime, there will be negotiations with another company to bring new aircraft.
Source: Algerian radio, Algiers, in Arabic 2200 gmt 4 Mar 03.
BBC Worldwide Monitoring/ (c) BBC 2003.