Airlines to Avoid is a regular column in Inside Traveller. We highlight airlines that appear to be having serious operational difficulties or those which are, or might soon be, in financial trouble. Over the years we have warned readers about a number of airlines that subsequently came to grief and we were the first UK publication to advise against using Swissair – at a time when most people regarded them as one of the world’s strongest airlines!
Our most recent advice was that the new US budget airline, JetAmerica, was not worth the risk for a possible saving of a few dollars. There were many things we did not like about this airline, including the fact that it was set up as a public charter operation with flights operated by another company. It was not too difficult to spot trouble looming. The airline first delayed its start-up for a couple of weeks and has now announced its closure, albeit with the promise, or threat, that they intend to come back at some time in the future.
It is much harder to get up-to-date information on small, foreign airlines and we always suggest that when travelling away from home and you are looking at domestic flights, it is better to stick with the big names rather than take a risk with small start-up operations.
