Skyward No More: The Airlines We Lost in 2024

Each year, I reflect on the airlines we lost over the past 12 months. While I much prefer writing about thriving airlines, examining closures offers insight into the industry’s harsh realities. Most airlines that ceased operations in the past year were small-scale ventures. Some, like ČSA Czech Airlines, LIAT, and Air Malta, carried historic names and legacies, while others were new players with big ambitions.

Several carriers sought to disrupt markets or introduce unique business models. For instance, HumoAir dreamed of connecting 60 destinations within a year, and Bonza promised affordable airfares tailored to Australians. Despite their aspirations, many airlines faltered due to unrealistic expectations, poor planning, and insufficient long-term funding.

Operating an airline is an incredibly complex and costly endeavour, requiring more than flashy branding or destination maps. Financial sustainability, operational reliability, and a well-thought-out business model are essential to survival—qualities many failed airlines lacked. Surprisingly, investors continue to fund unsound projects presented by enthusiastic but unprepared founders.

Below is a list of airlines that ceased operations last year. Each represents a story of ambition, struggle, and, ultimately, closure.

Air Bucharest

Romania
Founded: 2010. Last flight: 24 October 2022. Officially Ceased: March 2024
The airline operated charter flights to various destinations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, mainly from Bucharest’s Henri Coandă International Airport with two Boeing 737s and an Airbus 320
Fibula Air Travel bought 50% of the company in 2023 and planned to rename it “New Airlines” and fly new planes to new destinations. These new plans fell through.

AIX Connect (AirAsia India)

India
Commenced: June 2014 as AirAsia India. Renamed: 2022 | Ceased: 1 October 2024
AIX Connect operates 19 domestic destinations within India, with a fleet of 23 Airbus A320s from its primary base in Bangalore.
Joint venture between Tata and Malaysia’s AirAsia. AirAsia gradually disinvested its shares in the joint venture. In 2022, Tata acquired complete control, rebranding it as AIX Connect under the Air India brand. The airline continued to fly as AirAsia, however.
Through 2023 and 2024, the airline was merged into Air India Express.

Air Malta

Founded: March 1973. Commenced: April 1974. Ceased: 30 March 2025.
Operated seven Airbus A320-family aircraft to over 40 destinations at its peak, focusing on Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.
Faced financial struggles in the 2010s due to rising costs and competition from low-cost carriers particularly Ryanair. Restructuring efforts included route cuts, fleet downsizing, and workforce reductions but failed to resolve the airline’s debts.
In October 2023, the Maltese government announced Air Malta’s closure and replacement by KM Malta Airlines, a new national carrier designed to operate with a more sustainable model.
I flew Air Malta in 2023.

Albawings

Albania
2015 –January 2024
Connected Albania with several European destinations, initially focusing on routes underserved by larger airlines with two Boeing 737 aircraft.
Hit by stiff competition from established European low-cost carriers and struggled with its operational expenses.

Azman Air Services Limited

Nigeria
Founded: 2010 Ceased: August 2024
Aimed to offer affordable flight service on Nigerian domestic and regional routes within West Africa with a fleet of 4 aircraft.
Following a series of incidents involving Azman Air, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) in 2021 suspended the operations of all their Boeing 737 aircraft. They began flying again in 2022.
Azman Air struggled with rising fuel prices, aircraft maintenance costs, and competition from other regional carriers. It ceased flying in mid-2023, restarted in April. Azman Air ceased all operations in August 2024 after repeated suspensions and failed attempts to resume flights

bestfly Cabo Verde

Cape Verde
2011 – 2024
Operated flights to seven Cape Verde airports with an ATR 72-500
Founded in 2015 as Binter Cabo Verde, a scheduled and charter carrier of passenger and cargo, it took over interisland flights after TACV discontinued its domestic operations on 1 August 2017
Faced numerous challenges, particularly during the COVID19 global shutdowns, which reduced flight demand. It did not recover financially, ceased flying in 2023 and closed in 2024.

Bonza

Australia
Founded: October 2021. Commenced: 31 January 2023. Ceased:2 July 20254
Bonza operated to 21 destinations across Australia with a fleet of five Boeing Max8s, focusing on underserved routes. Most of their airport pairs didn’t have a direct service or low-cost connection.
Bonza appealed to Australian culture by offering Aussie items such as nostalgic food items and the staff being labelled as “Legends”. Tickets only sold via an app and not via website or travel agents.
Late 2023 through early 2024 flights were increasingly cancelled. In April 2024 its leaders (owed $AUD5million) terminated all aircraft leases, leading to a shock grounding. It was unable to attract investment and ceased. in July leaving 57,933 passengers out of pocket.

Canada Jetlines

Canada (no surprise)
Founded: 2013. Commenced: 22 September 2022. Ceased:15 August 2024
Scheduled and charter flights from Toronto to Calgary, Halifax and Vancouver plus Guyana, Jamaica, Mexico, and USA with four Airbus A320-200
Canada Jetlines operating and branded as jetlines was an ultra-low-cost carrier. It aimed to commence multiple times and announced it would have a fleet of 15 aircraft by the end of 2025
Despite multiple attempts, it never demonstrated a viable business strategy .

Céleste

France
Founded: 2021. Ceased: August. 2024. It never actually flew.
Intended to operate routes from Brest Bretagne (Britany to Paris Orly and Nice with a Canadair Regional Jet CRJ 100
Céleste secured EUR 500,000 in startup support from the Brest City Government and received its AOC from the French DGAC in March 2023. It stated that its launch was repeatedly postponed due to delays in obtaining its operating licence. Its only plane arrived in November 2023.
Brest Commercial Court placed Celeste into compulsory liquidation in March 2024. In bankruptcy protection, it negotiated to reorganise its debt and attempt to commence flying. Its liquidation was mandated in June 2024.

ČSA Czech Airlines

Czech Republic
Orginal founding: 1923 Ceased: 2024
At its 1990s peak operated a fleet of 40 aircraft to over 100 destinations worldwide. At its cessation, it had a handful of European routes and two Airbus A320 aircraft
Established in 1923 as Československé státní aerolinie (Czechoslovak State Airlines), it was the fifth-oldest airline in the world and the third to first fly jet plane flights. ČSA survived much of the 20th century. After the division of Czechoslovakia, the airline became simply CSA Czech Airlines and was privatised. CSA was an early member of Skyteam.
CSA faced intense competition from low-cost carriers flying into and out of Prague, its home port, while it struggled with a high-cost base and multiple owners through the 2000s. In 2011, the EU declared that it doubted CSA could ever be viable. In 2018, ČSA was acquired by Smartwings, which merged the ČSA brand into it, in 2024. A sad end to a significant airline.

Eagle Air Iceland

Iceland
Founded: 1970 Ceased: 2000. Restarted: 2007. Ceased: August 2024
At its peak, five Icelandic destinations with a fleet of three. At its cessation, only one route remained.
Founded as an ambulance and mail service operator, it had a hiatus until it took over several routes that Air Iceland abandoned.
In January 2023, airline Mýflug, bought a majority stake in Eagle Air. After Eagle Air’s bankruptcy, Mýflug took over its last remaining route

FlyArna (Armenian National Airlines)

Armenia
Founded: July 2021. Launch: July 2022. Suspended Ops January 2024. Licence suspended: March 2024
Five destinations in Egypt, Iran, Kuwait, and Russia with two Airbus 320s
Joint-venture low-cost carrier owned by UAE’s Air Arabia UAE(49%) and ANIF, Armenia National Interests Fund (51%). Launched under the EU blacklist, so not able to fly to or from EU airports.
Faced severe competition on a handful of low-traffic, low-profit routes. Fnancial situation meant that they gave up a plane was removed within the first year. Armenian government dissolved the larger Shareholder ANIF. The government’s relationship with Air Arabia apparently soured.

FlyEgypt

Egypt (obviously)
Founded: 2014. Started ops: 2015. Suspended Ops: October 2024
20 destinations across Egypt, the Middle East and Africa, with a fleet of 8 aircraft
A charter carrier providing domestic and international flights which moved into regular operations.
Competition from EgyptAir and low-cost operators meant it bled cash. Egypt’s Civil Aviation Authority liquidated the company.

HumoAir

Uzbekistan
Founded: 2020. Launched: 15 Dec 2023. Suspended: 11 Mar 2024
Five destinations in Uzbekistan, with two wet-leased Airbus 320s.
Originally established by Uzbekistan Airways. Ownership transferred to a Swiss investor in 2023. In October 2023, HumoAir announced plans to grow to 18 aircraft by 2025
In February 2024, the airline“suspended flights”” until the beginning of April 2024 while “waiting for three new aircraft”. Their website is still live, but booking flights isn’t possible. I think a return is unlikely.

iAero Airways

Founded: 1997. Renamed: 2020 Ceased: April 6, 2024.
Operated 15 Boeing 737 aircraft, primarily providing charter services for DHS, sports teams, corporate clients, and government contracts.
Began as Swift Air before its 2019 acquisition by iAero Group
iAero faced mismanagement and alleged fraud by previous leadership, ran into difficulties servicing its debts, a temporary cessation of flight service for DHS and a $29 million adverse outcome of a contract dispute

Int’Air Îles

Comoros
2012 – 2024
Two destinations within the Comoros, with a single Saab 340. At its peak, six aircraft and seven destinations.
Formed to provide an affordable transportation option for the island nation’s population and tourists alike, connecting smaller, underserved airports
Int’Air Îles had declined for a long period. The owners of their only aircraft repossessed the Saab in a bitter dispute over unpaid invoices. The airline was thus, unable to continue.

JetAir Caribbean

Curaçao
Founded: 2006. Rebranded as JetAir: 2019. Bankrupt: June 2024
Seven destinations within the Caribbean, with a fleet of 2 Fokker 70s (One grounded)
Founded as charter airline United Caribbean Airlines and rebranded as JetAir in 2019, they never recovered from launching just before the global COVID-19 shutdown, putting them behind financially.
One plane was soon grounded and used for parts to keep the other flying. The Court of First Instance of Curaçao declared the bankruptcy of United Caribbean Airlines B.V. and JetAir Caribbean B.V in June 2024

Lanmei Airlines

Cambodia
Founded: 2016. Commenced: 2017. Ceased: Feb 2024
Five destinations within Southeast Asia, with four A320-200s
A low-cost carrier offering regional flights between Cambodia and neighbouring Southeast Asian countries Vietnam, Thailand, plus China.”Lanmei” is an abbreviation for the Lancang-Mekong River.
I flew them in 2019

LIAT

Antigua and Barbuda
Original Founding: 1956. Bankruptcy and Re-launch: 1974. Liquidation and reformation: 2020. In administration: 2024
Regional flights across the Caribbean, with five ATR 72 aircraft
No fewer than three airlines have carried the name LIAT. Launched as Leeward Islands Air Transport Services. The latest version owned by eleven Caribbean governments.
LIAT (2020, version) was placed into Administration by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda

Lynx Air

Canada
Founded: 2021. Ceased Operations: 26 February 2024
Operated 6 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, serving 13 destinations.
Aimed to be an ultra-low-cost carrier, promising affordable airfares while seeking to target underserved regional markets.
In early 2024, there was speculation that Lynx might merge with Flair, another Canadian low-cost carrier. It entered credit protection in February 2024, suspending operations days later. Lynx cited high fuel prices, exchange rate issues, increasing airport charges, and a difficult economic climate.

Nigeria Air

Nigeria
Proposed: 2018. Never Commenced.
Planned for 10 domestic and international routes, but operations never fully began. Had three Boeing 737-800s
Intended to be the new national airline of Nigeria owned by Ethiopian Airlines (49%), Nigerian government (5%), and Nigerian investors (46%). It was meant to launch in December 2018.
Following a change of government, the new Nigerian Minister of Aviation suspended Nigeria Air calling for a national carrier to be wholly Nigerian. In September 2023, a Federal High Court voided the sale of Nigeria Air to Ethiopian. In 2024, the former aviation minister faced court over alleged corrupt contracts associated with the project. I think that means the pin was finally pulled!
In 1970 and 1971, I flew the original Nigeria Airways which ceased flying in 2003

Olympus Airways

Greece
Founded: April 2015. Commenced 2015. Bankrupt: September 2024
Charter airline with two Airbus 321s
From the country with Olympic Airways, came Olympus Airways offering a variety of charter operations. They served the TUI Group and Congo Airways among others.
In November 2022, a New Zealand-based lessor, sued Olympus for $74 million in monthly payments, maintenance reserves, and security costs on four planes. In 2023, Olympus Airways was ordered to pay $14 million in the suit, which reportedly led to its bankruptcy in September 2024.

OTT Airlines

Country: China
Founded: 2020. Ceased Operations: 22 September 2024
Operated 20 COMAC ARJ21 aircraft, serving 17 domestic destinations in China.
A China Eastern Airlines subsidiary was launched to promote and operate the domestically developed COMAC ARJ21 regional jet. “One Two Three Airlines” refers to Chinese philosopher Laozi’s three Daoism principles.
OTT Airlines failed to succeed financially and incurred significant debt levels.

Queen Bilqis Airways

Yemen
Founded: 2013. Secured state approval: 2016. Commenced ops: 24 November 2018. Suspended: 2021 Re-commenced: Date unclear. Ceased: February 2024
Three destinations within Yemen plus Amman, Jordan, with two aircraft
Queen Bilqis Airways was a private carrier operating in a warzone. They planned to connect nine region countries to Yemen before expanding to the European market.
In January 2024, the Yemeni Civil Aviation Authority suspended its operating license.

Sherpa Air

United States
Founded 2015. Commenced: December 2021. Ceased: July 2024
Charter airline with a single De Havilland Canada DHC-8-300 aircraft
Specialised in niche and special mission support for commercial and government clients
The airline retired its only aircraft in July 2024. They have not announced any plans to acquire new aircraft or resume operations

Taos Air

United States
Founded: 2018. Ceased: 1 April 2024
Taos Air connected Taos Regional Airport in New Mexico to three destinations in California and Texas- as a virtual airline, it outsourced operations.
Established with funding from several municipalities in New Mexico, Taos Air aimed to facilitate tourist travel to the Taos area. As a virtual airline, it sold flights under its brand while outsourcing actual flight operations—initially to Advanced Air and later to JSX.
Taos Air permanently ceased operations on 1 April 2024 when its airline service contract with the town of Taos expired. Shortly after, on 23 April 2024, the town of Taos approved a new airline service contract directly with JSX.

Vistara

India
Founded: 2013. Commenced: 9 January 2015. Ceased: 12 November 2024
Operated a fleet of 58 aircraft and connected 50 domestic and international destinations.
Established as premium airline as a joint venture between Tata Sons and Singapore Airlines
Vistara merged with Air India between September and November 2024 following Tata’s acquisition of Air India in 2021 during its privatisation. Tata originally founded Air India in 1932 under the name Tata Airlines. The Indian government nationalised them in 1953. The reacquisition of Air India allowed Tata to reclaim its aviation legacy.

WestJet Link

Canada
Founded: 2018. Ceased Operations: October 26, 2024
Connected smaller Canadian communities to WestJet’s larger hubs at Calgary and Vancouver, using five Saab 340 aircraft
It was a regional feeder service for WestJet, operated by Pacific Coastal Airlines.
WestJet Link faced declining demand in the post-pandemic era, particularly on its less profitable routes. Rising operational costs and insufficient passenger loads led WestJet to terminate the service in October 2024 as part of its broader cost-cutting measures. All operations were with all transferred to the WestJet Encore regional services

Conclusion

Did you have any bad experiences with one of these carriers? Were you stranded?

Have I missed any? Before anyone asks: No. I have not included Rex in Australia or New Pacific because they are still operating. They may have dropped some services, but they still exist as an airline.

These accounts highlight the importance of sustainable business models and operational resilience in an unforgiving industry. Keeping an airline aloft remains a remarkable achievement, deserving far more recognition than it often receives.