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Airbubba
7th Nov 2002, 01:56
Or is this the third National Airlines?

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National Airlines Ceases Operations


The Associated Press
Wednesday, November 6, 2002; 8:33 PM

LAS VEGAS –– National Airlines, which flew tourists to the nation's gambling capital, planned to cease operations Wednesday after nearly two years in bankruptcy court. The Las Vegas-based carrier said Wednesday would be its last day of business.

A $2 million financing deal that would have kept the carrier flying fell apart last month.

"We kept fighting and a lot of people kept working with us," National spokesman Dik Shimizu said. "But the airline industry is still hemorrhaging red ink and obviously it's not an easy task to attract new capital."

The airline began service in May 1999, billing itself as a hometown carrier that would deliver tourists to its Las Vegas hub. National flew to a dozen cities with a fleet of 18 leased Boeing 757s.

National filed for bankruptcy in December 2000. It was unable to develop its reorganization plan after the Air Transportation Stabilization Board denied its request for a federal loan guarantee in August.

National said it would offer no refunds on tickets, and was telling customers to contact their credit card companies. The company's Web site also was shut down.

The company flew to Chicago, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, N.J., New York, Philadelphia, Reno, Nev., San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

411A
7th Nov 2002, 02:26
One of their pilots emailed me this afternoon with the sad news and asked I he knew where there is work. As he has flown Lockheed equipment before, we can always use an experienced operator. Will be glad to have him.
One can only wonder...initially when National was organized, it was capitalized with $40million from several Las Vegas resorts.
Considering the amount involved, why would ANY investor hire as CEO the same fellow who ran AmericaWest into the ground, and bankruptcy?
This happens over and over in the airline business. 'Tis a disgrace for all involved.

Squawk7777
7th Nov 2002, 02:45
Take a look at US Airways... another sad example :(

Who said aviation has to make sense ...

ironbutt57
7th Nov 2002, 05:20
Seems to happen a lot that way doesn't it...kinda like if airlines were to look for pilots specifically with high accident rates to manage their flight standards dept's good luck to the crews at nat'l couple of them good friends from the shed flying days in phx