Independence Air To Cut Flights Again As Buyers Are Sought
Wall Street Journal, December 14, 2005

FLYi Inc.'s Independence Air, which sought bankruptcy-court protection Nov. 7, said it will shrink its already-reduced flight schedule Jan. 5 to save money.

The Dulles, Va., company told employees yesterday that it will trim its daily flights to a maximum of 170 from 220, and will drop service to Chicago, Jacksonville, Fla., Buffalo, N.Y., and Manchester, N.H., from its base at Washington's Dulles International Airport. Once those destinations have been excised from the schedule and Independence launches service this Friday to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the airline will offer flights to 33 cities.

At its peak in the fall of 2004, low-fare Independence served 47 cities with 600 flights a day. A spokesman declined to comment on whether the schedule change will result in layoffs. He also said FLYi hasn't announced changes to its fleet of 12 Airbus jets and 30 smaller regional jets.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, which is hearing the airline's Chapter 11 case, last month approved bidding procedures for the airline and its assets, with final bids due on Friday. FLYi said it has received multiple expressions of interest, including proposals to acquire it, to invest in the company, and to buy specific assets. Without an equity investment or sale of the company, FLYi will be forced to shut down.

Iairs days have unfortunately been numbered for the past few months. I don't think anything can turn that ship before it hits the iceberg in January. Hope I'm wrong though...

I'd love to have the option to return someday down the line...