fireman0174

Hooters Air Dropping Almost All Service
DOW JONES NEWSWIRES
March 29, 2006 2:40 p.m.

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MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (AP)--Hooters Airlines in Myrtle Beach said Wednesday that it's stopping regularly scheduled air service.

The airline said it will stop its public charter flights April 17 and will run only private charters out of Winston-Salem, N.C.

President Mark Peterson said Hooters Air will serve large groups such as sports teams and tour groups.

Peterson says some of the airline's 350 workers will be laid off in Winston-Salem. About five workers in Myrtle Beach are being laid off.

Hooters started service between Myrtle Beach and Atlanta in 2003.

As of last July, the airline was serving 15 locations.

However, the airline began canceling holiday flights in December. It had stopped most flights in January but had said it would resume service to Myrtle Beach in the spring.

"The flying industry is in a terrible mess," Hooters Air founder and chairman of Hooters of America Bob Brooks was quoted as saying by the Myrtle Beach Sun News on Wednesday. "I've got a fair amount of money, but I don't have enough to fix this animal."

Corrected March 29, 2006 14:40 ET (19:40 GMT)

"The flying industry is in a terrible mess," Hooters Air founder and chairman of Hooters of America Bob Brooks was quoted as saying by the Myrtle Beach Sun News on Wednesday. "I've got a fair amount of money, but I don't have enough to fix this animal."

http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-...2.html?mod=air

dash trash

nobody likes to see Hooters down

KRAZO

Hooters suspending "MOST" service? Isn't that a little like saying Abe Lincoln had a headache?

Short Final

It's a shame to hear of Hooters sagging like that...
I hope they get some support....

SF

captjns

More bad news surrounding Hooters Air
There’s more new regarding the collapse of Hooters Air, which is now being sued by Allentown’s (Pa.) Lehigh Valley International Airport for the $1.1 million the airport says are the airline’s unpaid bills. Most of that figure is for unpaid fuel bills, airport officials tell The Allentown Morning Call. "They were behind, and then they caught up, and then they got behind again," airport chief George Doughty says to The Express-Times of Easton, Pa. said. "The amount of money in the matter of a month or two became excessive." The lawsuit comes following Hooters Air’s slow demise over the past four months, in which it made last-minute cancellations that stranded Christmastime travelers and altered flight schedules that sometimes even caught airport officials by surprise.

B757200ER

That is usually a precursor to more cutbacks----or worse.

captjns

let's see... bills not paid. I am sure payroll is amiss too. The next step is not bankruptcy... Tango Uniform....

B757200ER

Well, flying contracts at below cost is definately a problem. Just because you keep your planes flying doesn't mean you're making profits. Pace has been under-cutting charter airlines since before HooterAir started up.

IronWalt

So who would you recommend as a good reputable Charter Airline out there? They all seem to be on the edge. SouthEast and TransMeridian both went out suddenly. It seems like there is a serious lack of reliable lift out there for the tour operators. I can't believe Hooters went out as they have the resturant chain to finance problems in the airline.

captjns

Miami Air. They are a very reputable charter carrier. They are a top notch operation. The provide great service and product. They have a fleet of B737-800s. They are owned by a St. Louis Company with a money behind them.

The measure of a good charter company is not only the product but also their commitment to their clients, passengers and vendors too.