No Immediate Flight Disruptions Expected

Confirming months of speculation among industry analysts, Flyi Inc, parent company of year-old LCC Independence Air, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Monday in Delaware.

Flyi CEO Kerry Skeen told the Associated Press the airline suffered for choosing to go independent "in what has been described as the most challenging economic environment in airline industry history, including record high fuel prices and extreme revenue weakness. These circumstances have prevented us and virtually all U.S. airlines from meeting financial goals."

Airline spokesman Rick DeLisi said Monday flights would operate on regular schedule, and that no immediate disruptions in service were expected.

As was reported in Aero-News, Dulles International-based Flyi -- formerly known as Atlantic Coast Airlines -- made the transition from contract carrier for United Airlines and Delta Air Lines to independent operation in July 2004, after United sought to renegotiate its contract.

From the beginning, skeptics doubted the operation would survive in the highly-competitive marketplace of domestic air travel, especially with its regional jets hampered by higher per-person costs than larger jets. Even cut-rate one-way fares as low as $29 to some destinations weren't enough to fill the planes, which were often flown half empty.

FMI: www.flyi.com