Another airline has ceased operations due to financial challenges, joining the ranks of Scottish company EcoJet Airlines and Royal Air Philippines, which have also faced liquidation and flight cancellations.
Dove Airlines, an Indian charter carrier established in 2007 and based in Kolkata, has recently closed down after voluntarily entering liquidation earlier this year. The airline specialized in offering business and private charter services and operated under non-scheduled flight permits, managing a fleet that included a Cessna Citation Jet 2 registered as VT-DOV.
The airline has been inactive since 2022 when it lost its final aircraft to creditors. Usha-Martin, a manufacturing company, sold its 50% stake in Dove Airlines in 2015 due to consistent financial losses.
After years of insolvency proceedings and unsuccessful fundraising attempts, Dove Airlines opted for voluntary liquidation supervised by the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India (IBBI). Mr. Pranab Kumar Chakrabarty has been appointed as the liquidator to handle asset distribution and debt settlements, with creditors and stakeholders required to submit claims by February 4.
Dove Airlines, once a prominent non-scheduled carrier, provided passenger and cargo services using regional aircraft like the Dornier 228. Despite aspirations to participate in the government’s UDAN scheme for regional connectivity, the airline struggled with financial pressures, grounded fleets, and legal disputes with aircraft lessors.
In a similar turn of events, Smartlynx Airlines recently had to halt all flights after entering administration. The Latvian-based airline, in operation since 1992, faced financial challenges leading to the suspension of all operations. Known for supplying European carriers such as easyJet and expanding services to India, Smartlynx Airlines couldn’t overcome its financial woes, resulting in the grounding of its entire fleet.
