Centurion Air Cargo (Miami International) is facing an uncertain future following reports in the Floridian press stating the carrier's fuel supplier, Chemoil Corp., has filed several lawsuits against it over USD12.9million in outstanding debt.
Industry publication, Loadstar, states Chemoil has filed a total of eleven lawsuits extending to each aircraft - eight MD-11Fs and three B747-400Fs - in both the Centurion and its sister carrier SkyLease Cargo (GG, Miami International) fleet.
Following Centurion's announcement in April that it would sell-off its fleet of MD-11(F)s in favour of more B747-400(F)s, Chemoil filed mechanic liens to prevent the sale until the debt was paid.
Chemoil has now exerted further pressure on Centurion by filing a new challenge, which will force the airlines to auction the aircraft unless the bill, which varies from USD345,477 to USD2.2million for each aircraft, is paid.
The carrier has faced increasing competition on its mainstay Latin American routes with Atlas Air (5Y, New York JFK) and other operators eroding its market share.
