French appeals court upholds liquidation of Air Lib

Airline Industry Information, March 6, 2003

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2003 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

A French appeals court has reportedly upheld a ruling to liquidate French carrier Air Lib.

In February 2003 a commercial court ordered the liquidation of the airline, which was grounded on 5 February after its operating licence expired. Air Lib was forced to cancel all operations - leaving passengers stranded - after negotiations between the government, the airline's shareholders, and Dutch financial group IMAC failed.

The airline's management had called for the liquidation to be annulled, however the court denied the request.

The Cohor agency, which manages runway slots in France, is to begin redistributing runway slots held by Air Lib, reported Reuters.

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