Belgium’s Air Antwerp calls it quits, to be liquidated

Air Antwerp (WP, Antwerp) has thrown in the towel and will be liquidated as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on European aviation continues to spread. A 75/25 joint-venture between CityJet and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, the carrier had focussed on Antwerp-London City flights using a single Fokker 50, OO-VLS (msn 20109), which was leased from Amapola Flyg (HP, Stockholm Arlanda). The Fokker Aircraft was returned to Malmö, Sweden, early last month. Air Antwerp has operated intermittently since the pandemic hit, with losses having worsened with the latest wave of the virus. Belgium’s continued listing as an Amber country by the UK authorities, effectively discouraging travel there, proved the final straw. After having last operated a scheduled service to London City on November 29, 2020, Air Antwerp had only performed ad-hoc charter services. “The board of directors of Air Antwerp has therefore decided to completely halt the operational activities of the regional carrier and dissolve the company,” spokesman Yves Panneels said in a media statement on Friday, June 11. All nine employees have now been formally terminated while a liquidator is in the process of being appointed.