By Michele McDonald
COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Air South ceased operations and filed for
bankruptcy on the eve of the Labor Day weekend. Air South said
"there is no protection for passengers" holding tickets and advised
them to contact the travel agency that issued the ticket or their
credit card companies for refunds. Passengers who paid cash to Air
South were told to write to the airline after Sept. 4. The
carrier's fax number for ticket holders' or agents' inquiries is
(803) 822-4132.
The Airlines Reporting Corp. said it will process all agency
transactions on Air South, including refunds, through the sales
period ending Sept. 21. If Air South does not resume service by
then, "we may have to suspend or terminate our agreement with the
carrier," an ARC spokesman said.
The carrier served Myrtle Beach, Columbia and
Green-ville-Spartanburg, S.C.; Jacksonville and Miami, Fla.;
Atlanta; Chicago; New York (Kennedy), and Norfolk, Va.
The airline had received a $12 million loan backed by South
Carolina's Jobs Economic Development Authority; the agency said it
was "confident Air South will honor its commitment." Hambrecht
& Quist Group, a San Francisco-based investment firm that had
invested in the airline, said it expects to take a charge in the
September quarter of about $5.5 million.
Air South passengers were left with few options on the eve of
the Labor Day weekend. Kiwi sold Air South ticket holders a Kiwi
ticket at the same price they had paid the grounded line. Myrtle
Beach Jet Express, a public charter service, added service to New
York and Chicago over the weekend.