![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SHH54O2YQ6BYBB5V2TJUYEYNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab1f5dfe83b3b4cd9c42c8bd6db23396639b8cde2e1cb7aa45340bb0668e3475&width=400&height=225)
20. Icelandic airline Wow Air closed abruptly last month leaving passengers stranded. Courtesy Flickr / Anna Zvereva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPLTFFDGTJ2BJUEA6PWI74QVDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c72277ebba11a554ca56f70dacc7ad485cb9ced8fd6659ab0d76c398d346cee&width=400&height=225)
1. NextJet - one of Sweden’s largest airlines - filled for bankruptcy just six months after one if its aircraft was damaged while parked in a hangar. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GMQC2PGXIWT4TSKBGQRXNVZ4GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=36017374214238ed26770f7bf56e7b047bb53c62fbef8e43b784a56ca8f6e6a8&width=400&height=225)
2. California Pacific closed in January but the company is keen to return to the skies. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Hawaiian717
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TY6TOZLMTWP3MKR6W3UNDAZO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=eeae9d985f8056176f9e36eb80ae04841269c8bb7dd0bcceebac0634c0283bf4&width=400&height=225)
3. Since closing in August, OneJet has filed for bankruptcy citing over $43 million in losses. Courtesy OneJet
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFCPHKDDHP7BHHUZRN2QVJSVQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e99eb8a0598b557e0d39bf85211cd8062e55a920151536e9cb89acf3ea2de84&width=400&height=225)
4. Shaheen Air tweeted about a Saudi investor but nothing came of it and the Pakistani airline closed in October. Courtesy Rehan Asghar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MCPA5PF7SPQDAF6CIBDQO2MXRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=276e51f2cc4adee329312a13c2f6aab000b1d37e22b0e6c318d86bfde6164abc&width=400&height=225)
5. Cypriot airline Cobalt folded in October despite being touted to take over as the largest airline in Cyprus. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AYXH7W5YTCXENOMAYG74K52YYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c0ffd89c13015b6cc11fa69573645056d3a0da7d49aaa36b517ec7bf8f217d8&width=400&height=225)
6. Small Planet stopped operations in November last year. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2JDLZWOOA4TKF3TWST33UM7BA.jpg?smart=true&auth=96bc68c491690f4f08bc5cd90812917f5a9399698272f5f4d91891ef7e150961&width=400&height=225)
7. UK airline Flybmi closed in February amidst Brexit chaos. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Östersund photography
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PVBROEAF6R4TVNR2HKPGQRCEF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a40753edfa2a1274c62f21800fc4754579af7ff2289e39cd8b1b3a6894a2bc98&width=400&height=225)
8. SBA Airlines ceased operations in April last year. Courtesy Flicker / Joao Carlos Medau
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FCFA7NG56NUHSHKWHT66Y4VVB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fdb6f7de8f7e223f2dbacf825c9d38cffb61a8268a281de98400b57d577b5987&width=400&height=225)
9. February 2019 saw Dutch Caribbean airline Insel Air declared bankrupt. Courtesy Flickr
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D5U2J4DBYTX6UBAO6XOS3YPQW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb19f4490f3ff81f36c9f11cac7ccae60444585e1df06aa66ae2209496802c4b&width=400&height=225)
10. Kuwait's Wataniya Airways folded in September. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HGB5MLXCVMF43I6KHHQYCSS5LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=19b3797e06ccfd0364888a80fb8dcfc30f2db7d41f49609f10114d55c82b4dfe&width=400&height=225)
11. Air Arabia Jordan was a partnership between Air Arabia and Jordan's RUM Group but the company folded in April last year. Courtesy Flickr
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CQKSZCC3XBELTUK3GSRAED3FWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0406e7955f58e08b087640bfe3c0a69c2aca4d25ca518021df4caff2f2a4c5ce&width=400&height=225)
12. Berlin-based Germania Air ceased flights this year. Courtesy Wikiemedia Commons / Pedro Aragão
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TMWBKOQENKZXD7NNCWPBRNUKMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8594c418d720854c45545bb302503af7f23639108fe99ad054400e43ed238d79&width=400&height=225)
13. Aserca Airlines folded after suffering financially from the Venezuelan crisis. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2RRDRCW7RMMHZYP6TKBGFJLKIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfdf548af0f9a0032facf311accbf8d22099786b7c465c8bae871e65c25a9bbd&width=400&height=225)
14. Swiss charter carrier PrivatAir was another 2018 aviation casualty. Courtesy PrivatAir SA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IK77SQ3RA67BV3LAWLJUHCBOJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c116b4c07e15b39505440e141c26ed6c7a433f5b91fc5723455fb365ae72cdfc&width=400&height=225)
15. Primera Air, a low-budget airline from Denmark, folded abruptly last October leaving passengers stranded on both sides of the Atlantic. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RB64NID4WR5A2JZFXTMG6M52FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=83fd2341080c96e861c7904d2a1ad86f8808bf4b267e5e20af19fccaeb870128&width=400&height=225)
16. Switzerland's SkyWork closed in August after 35 years of flying. Courtesy Wikimedia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PC435QW3MWTDQS55WCLQI5I5TY.jpg?smart=true&auth=70672c610d619c94530469145fb0fbf4b801688cf5ae04cd17902ebc0a95257a&width=400&height=225)
17. UK airline Cello Air ceased flights in October. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ZB7KJOX7FLCO6C7VZOK2WMUKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=83af5bb3a11c2019b68c250499c855b7e0e5d5260b857e4bdda4b3481cc9bc88&width=400&height=225)
18. Belgian airline VLM folded in August last year. Courtesy VLM Airlines.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICYT3BUSEMLT3MBD5N2BSIQZCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ab7c587df351ae3569e7944635ad503d8ecaaeff8cbab28520a2b9f11f483da&width=400&height=225)
19. German based Azur Air closed in September. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Anna Zvereva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SHH54O2YQ6BYBB5V2TJUYEYNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab1f5dfe83b3b4cd9c42c8bd6db23396639b8cde2e1cb7aa45340bb0668e3475&width=400&height=225)
20. Icelandic airline Wow Air closed abruptly last month leaving passengers stranded. Courtesy Flickr / Anna Zvereva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BPLTFFDGTJ2BJUEA6PWI74QVDA.jpg?smart=true&auth=4c72277ebba11a554ca56f70dacc7ad485cb9ced8fd6659ab0d76c398d346cee&width=400&height=225)
1. NextJet - one of Sweden’s largest airlines - filled for bankruptcy just six months after one if its aircraft was damaged while parked in a hangar. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Anna Zvereva from Tallinn, Estonia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GMQC2PGXIWT4TSKBGQRXNVZ4GI.jpg?smart=true&auth=36017374214238ed26770f7bf56e7b047bb53c62fbef8e43b784a56ca8f6e6a8&width=400&height=225)
2. California Pacific closed in January but the company is keen to return to the skies. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Hawaiian717
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6TY6TOZLMTWP3MKR6W3UNDAZO4.jpg?smart=true&auth=eeae9d985f8056176f9e36eb80ae04841269c8bb7dd0bcceebac0634c0283bf4&width=400&height=225)
3. Since closing in August, OneJet has filed for bankruptcy citing over $43 million in losses. Courtesy OneJet
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TFCPHKDDHP7BHHUZRN2QVJSVQQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=5e99eb8a0598b557e0d39bf85211cd8062e55a920151536e9cb89acf3ea2de84&width=400&height=225)
4. Shaheen Air tweeted about a Saudi investor but nothing came of it and the Pakistani airline closed in October. Courtesy Rehan Asghar
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MCPA5PF7SPQDAF6CIBDQO2MXRY.jpg?smart=true&auth=276e51f2cc4adee329312a13c2f6aab000b1d37e22b0e6c318d86bfde6164abc&width=400&height=225)
5. Cypriot airline Cobalt folded in October despite being touted to take over as the largest airline in Cyprus. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/AYXH7W5YTCXENOMAYG74K52YYI.jpg?smart=true&auth=9c0ffd89c13015b6cc11fa69573645056d3a0da7d49aaa36b517ec7bf8f217d8&width=400&height=225)
6. Small Planet stopped operations in November last year. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G2JDLZWOOA4TKF3TWST33UM7BA.jpg?smart=true&auth=96bc68c491690f4f08bc5cd90812917f5a9399698272f5f4d91891ef7e150961&width=400&height=225)
7. UK airline Flybmi closed in February amidst Brexit chaos. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Östersund photography
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PVBROEAF6R4TVNR2HKPGQRCEF4.jpg?smart=true&auth=a40753edfa2a1274c62f21800fc4754579af7ff2289e39cd8b1b3a6894a2bc98&width=400&height=225)
8. SBA Airlines ceased operations in April last year. Courtesy Flicker / Joao Carlos Medau
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FCFA7NG56NUHSHKWHT66Y4VVB4.jpg?smart=true&auth=fdb6f7de8f7e223f2dbacf825c9d38cffb61a8268a281de98400b57d577b5987&width=400&height=225)
9. February 2019 saw Dutch Caribbean airline Insel Air declared bankrupt. Courtesy Flickr
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D5U2J4DBYTX6UBAO6XOS3YPQW4.jpg?smart=true&auth=eb19f4490f3ff81f36c9f11cac7ccae60444585e1df06aa66ae2209496802c4b&width=400&height=225)
10. Kuwait's Wataniya Airways folded in September. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HGB5MLXCVMF43I6KHHQYCSS5LM.jpg?smart=true&auth=19b3797e06ccfd0364888a80fb8dcfc30f2db7d41f49609f10114d55c82b4dfe&width=400&height=225)
11. Air Arabia Jordan was a partnership between Air Arabia and Jordan's RUM Group but the company folded in April last year. Courtesy Flickr
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CQKSZCC3XBELTUK3GSRAED3FWE.jpg?smart=true&auth=0406e7955f58e08b087640bfe3c0a69c2aca4d25ca518021df4caff2f2a4c5ce&width=400&height=225)
12. Berlin-based Germania Air ceased flights this year. Courtesy Wikiemedia Commons / Pedro Aragão
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/TMWBKOQENKZXD7NNCWPBRNUKMA.jpg?smart=true&auth=8594c418d720854c45545bb302503af7f23639108fe99ad054400e43ed238d79&width=400&height=225)
13. Aserca Airlines folded after suffering financially from the Venezuelan crisis. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2RRDRCW7RMMHZYP6TKBGFJLKIE.jpg?smart=true&auth=cfdf548af0f9a0032facf311accbf8d22099786b7c465c8bae871e65c25a9bbd&width=400&height=225)
14. Swiss charter carrier PrivatAir was another 2018 aviation casualty. Courtesy PrivatAir SA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IK77SQ3RA67BV3LAWLJUHCBOJI.jpg?smart=true&auth=c116b4c07e15b39505440e141c26ed6c7a433f5b91fc5723455fb365ae72cdfc&width=400&height=225)
15. Primera Air, a low-budget airline from Denmark, folded abruptly last October leaving passengers stranded on both sides of the Atlantic. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RB64NID4WR5A2JZFXTMG6M52FA.jpg?smart=true&auth=83fd2341080c96e861c7904d2a1ad86f8808bf4b267e5e20af19fccaeb870128&width=400&height=225)
16. Switzerland's SkyWork closed in August after 35 years of flying. Courtesy Wikimedia
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PC435QW3MWTDQS55WCLQI5I5TY.jpg?smart=true&auth=70672c610d619c94530469145fb0fbf4b801688cf5ae04cd17902ebc0a95257a&width=400&height=225)
17. UK airline Cello Air ceased flights in October. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6ZB7KJOX7FLCO6C7VZOK2WMUKY.jpg?smart=true&auth=83af5bb3a11c2019b68c250499c855b7e0e5d5260b857e4bdda4b3481cc9bc88&width=400&height=225)
18. Belgian airline VLM folded in August last year. Courtesy VLM Airlines.
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ICYT3BUSEMLT3MBD5N2BSIQZCM.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ab7c587df351ae3569e7944635ad503d8ecaaeff8cbab28520a2b9f11f483da&width=400&height=225)
19. German based Azur Air closed in September. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons / Anna Zvereva
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6SHH54O2YQ6BYBB5V2TJUYEYNI.jpg?smart=true&auth=ab1f5dfe83b3b4cd9c42c8bd6db23396639b8cde2e1cb7aa45340bb0668e3475&width=400&height=225)
20. Icelandic airline Wow Air closed abruptly last month leaving passengers stranded. Courtesy Flickr / Anna Zvereva
20 airlines that have folded this year
The past year has been a tumultuous one for aviation with airlines around the world cancelling flights, ceasing operations and leaving passengers stranded
![Hayley Skirka](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5aa171d9-e19e-4724-894f-afdab957726f.png?smart=true&auth=0060497e4d6de279036bf67ee0e69c23726110ddc9067f6419a245b2b05cf91d&width=70&height=70)
Hayley Skirka
07 April, 2019
- Listen In English
- Listen In Arabic