Frontier retires the last American-based A318 from service

The US Department of the Treasury has reached agreements with each of American Airlines, Spirit Airlines, Frontier Airlines, SkyWest Airlines (United States of America), and Hawaiian Airlines over the extension of federal loans covering losses they have each sustained as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Each of the five major airlines signed a Letter of Intent with the Treasury, although the amounts of the loans, either aggregate or individual, were not disclosed. While the Treasury said that the airlines were required to "provide warrants, equity interests, or senior debt instruments as appropriate taxpayer compensation", the details of each's pledged collateral were also not disclosed.

None of the four stock-market listed airlines (Frontier Airlines is privately held) revealed any further details in any of their respective SEC filings.

"We are pleased that major air carriers intend to use this important program and for Treasury to use its authority under the CARES Act to provide much-needed financial assistance, while ensuring appropriate taxpayer compensation. Conversations with other airlines continue, and we look forward to...

Midwest Express Airlines (Milwaukee General Mitchell) has raised USD1 million dollars in funding as it attempts to commence operations.

In an SEC filing on May 27, the start-up said three investors had “invested in the offering”. The company said it accepts a minimum of USD200,000 in outside investment.

Midwest Express aims to launch as a virtual carrier using the brand of Midwest Airlines (YX, Milwaukee General Mitchell), which merged into Frontier Airlines (F9, Denver Int'l) in 2009. Midwest Airlines ceased operations in 2010.

In May 2018, Midwest Express raised USD750,000 in a funding round led by two investors, according to an SEC filing, and in July 2019 the airline entered into an agreement with Elite Airways (7Q, Portland Int'l Jetport) ahead of a late 2019 or early 2020 launch, with Elite to provide aircraft, pilots and crew. However, the contract was terminated on December 31, 2019. As Elite only returned a portion of Midwest’s deposit, Elite was then ordered to pay Midwest Express USD150,000, according to Milwaukee County...

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) tentatively granted fifteen carriers exemptions from their minimum service obligations covering a total of 75 points under its newly adopted relaxed interpretation of federal guidelines.

The tentative list of exemptions includes 14 active carriers namely:

• Alaska Airlines - exemptions covering Charleston, SC, Columbus John Glenn, OH, El Paso, New Orleans Int'l, and San Antonio Int'l;
• Allegiant Air - New Orleans, Ogdensburg, Palm Springs Int'l, San Antonio, Springfield, IL, and Tucson Int'l;
• American Airlines - Aspen, Eagle, Montrose, and Worcester;
• Cape Air - Portland Int'l Jetport;
• Delta Air Lines - Aspen, Bangor, Erie, Flint, Fort Smith, AR, Lincoln, NE, New Bern, Peoria, Santa Barbara, CA, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, and Williston;
• Elite Airways - Sarasota/Bradenton;
• Frontier Airlines - Greenville/Spartanburg Int'l, Mobile Downtown, Palm Springs, Portland Jetport, and Tyler;
• JetBlue Airways - Albuquerque,...

Indigo Partners has confirmed it will submit a binding bid for Virgin Australia Holdings and will do so together with the Los Angeles-based alternative investment firm Oaktree Capital Management as well as a probable Australian partner.

As previously reported, Indigo is one of four private equity firms that Virgin Australia administrators have shortlisted, a source close to the matter told Reuters, the others being Bain Capital, BGH Capital, and Cyrus Capital Partners. However, Virgin Australia (VA, Brisbane Int'l) merely said it had shortlisted “a small number of potential buyers” for the company.

Final bids for Australia’s second-biggest airline, which entered voluntary administration on April 21 owing AUD6.8 billion Australian dollars (USD4.45 billion) to more than 12,000 creditors, should be lodged by June 12. The process to close the transaction with the winning bidder will probably take the sale process into early July.

Phoenix-based private equity firm Indigo Partners already holds a controlling interest in Frontier Airlines and JetSMART and stakes in Volaris and Wizz Air. Its co-founder and managing...