13 Airlines Shut Down in 2009

Small and little-known airlines around the world grounded forever

Thirteen airlines that were flying a year ago are no longer in the air. From Air Comet (Spain) to Zambian Airways (Zambia, naturally), the Cranky Flyer found a baker's dozen carriers that folded in 2009 for a number of reasons. None of these have the global importance of, say, Pan Am, but each had a niche. Some were operationally unsound and were shut done by their respective national aviation authorities. Others succumbed to mismanagement and financial failures. Cranky wrote about the often-checkered history of each and what finally did it in. A tombstone graphic accompanied each writeup. Although I never heard of most of these doomed carriers, the stories made for interesting reading -- a must for anyone who vacuums up airline trivia.