Dulles-based Independence Air is giving back 24 of its leased regional jets, about one-third of its fleet, in a last-ditch effort to get above the bankruptcy cloud that's been hovering around the cut-rate carrier.
Independence flies regional routes from Washington's Dulles throughout the East and Midwest. It is planning to start service to the West Coast this spring, but high fuel costs and a light passenger load have been problems since Day One.
The company says it has restructured its remaining leases and wrested concessions from its creditors, enabling it to avoid bankruptcy for at least the next few months.
The airline has trimmed its workforce and cutback the number of flights per day but did not eliminate any of its destinations in the latest round of cuts.
