Adria Airways Grounds Flights as Cash Runs Out

Slovenia’s Adria Airways has “temporarily ceased” flight operations for two days as it seeks funding to continue operations.

The flight cancellations, on all but two Frankfurt flights, will impact almost 4,000 passengers with bookings on the Ljubljana-based airline.

A company statement said it is intensively searching solutions in cooperation with a potential investor.

“The goal of everyone involved is to make Adria Airways fly again according to the schedule and that ceasing of certain operations is indeed temporary.”

In a sign of mounting difficulties for any restart however, leasing companies have started repossessing aircraft operated by the Slovenian carrier. The operator had a fleet of 20 aircraft prior to the suspension of flying.

Adria’s problems comes in the same week that UK-based travel operator Thomas Cook collapsed, including its Thomas Cook Airlines unit. Other European carriers, Aigle Azur, Germania, flybmi and WOW have also failed this year.

In an optimistic note, Adria advised passengers to check that their flight is operating before leaving for the airport.