Ceased, Defunct and Suspended Airlines

Many airlines have ceased operations over the years - for a full list of ceased airlines, please take a look at the list above. We have ordered this by year that the airline has ceased operations.

Airlines stop flying for several reasons. A common reason and major cause is financial difficulty. Airlines operate on tight margins and competition in the industry can be fierce, so when events like economic downturns, rising fuel costs and unexpected maintenance expenses occur, it can tip the scales towards bankruptcy.

Another reason is due to mergers and acquisitions. Airlines sometimes merge with others to create a stronger presence within the market. This will however lead to the disappearance of one of the involved airlines.

A less common reason is safety issues. If an airline encounters a series of accidents resulting in the loss of public confidence in safety standards, it can force the airline to ground its fleet.

This can be a frustrating situation and your options will depend on the specific airline as well as how recently they ceased operations. If you booked your flights through Alternative Airlines and the airline has now ceased operations, please contact us immediately - our friendly customer service team will be happy to help you solve this issue.

If you didn't book your flight through Alternative Airlines:

• Check for refund information - the airline may have issued a statement outlining how passengers can claim refunds for unused tickets.
• Contact your credit card company - if you paid for your ticket(s) using a credit card, you may be able to file a chargeback to get your money back.
• Look for travel insurance - if you had travel insurance, it might cover some or all of your losses in case of airline closure.