The first half of 2026 saw the collapse of several small and mid-size airlines. Sometimes, even plans to launch a new one end up getting shut down before a single plane takes off.
Envisioned as the world’s first zero-emission regional airline by British green investor Dale Vince, British carrier Ecojet Airlines entered voluntary liquidation, or the British equivalent of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy, in January 2026.
This came after Ecojet’s initial plan of purchasing old Twin Otter and ATR 72 planes and converting their kerosene engines to hydrogen-electric ones ran up high costs.
Maeve Aerospace, a Dutch hydro-electric airplane developer, was also recently declared insolvent by a Dutch court after the initial plan that caught the attention of multiple investors ultimately failed to take off.
Shareholders vote to dissolve Aerolinee Siciliane in latest airline shutdown
The latest airline to be shut down prior to getting off the ground is regional Italian carrier Aerolinee Siciliane.
As first reported by Swiss outlet ch-aviation, shareholders of the company, which was envisioned to provide budget air connectivity to the Italian island, voted to dissolve and liquidate the airline before operations could begin.
Related: Authorities shut down 17 travel and air cargo companies in crackdown
A virtual airline aiming to provide aircraft and services to other local carriers, Aerolinee Siciliane planned to launch the new airline out of Catania-Fontanarossa Airport (CTA) in Sicily with flights to Milan and Bergamo.
Although two Boeing 737-400 planes were selected to run the routes, Palermo Todayreports that the spike in fuel prices over the Iran war, along with regulatory hurdles, made the project too expensive to continue.
Image source: Shutterstock
Aerolinee Siciliane CEO blames administrative bodies, pursues lawsuit
Aerolinee Siciliane CEO Luigi Crispino said he is looking to file a lawsuit against administrative bodies he feels hindered the airline’s launch.
Crispino issued several provocative statements and accusations, saying shareholders “are curious and eager to know who had an interest in halting Aerolinee Siciliane flights.”
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Many of the frequent starts and stops since plans for the airline were first announced in 2020 remain mired in mystery, as its founders have not elaborated on the challenges.
Airlines that filed for bankruptcy protection in 2026:
- Spirit Airlines: The largest airline shutdown of the year occurred when Spirit Airlines canceled all remaining flights on May 2. Although the airline had filed for Chapter 11 protection twice before, the skyrocketing price of jet fuel dealt the final blow to its operations.
- Magnicharters: In a shutdown that was initially supposed to be temporary, the Mexican low-cost airline ended up filing for bankruptcy at the end of May.
- Starflite Aviation: Houston-based Starflite Aviation had its AOC license revoked in March 2026, amid FAA claims that owners falsified pilot training records to bypass safety audits.
- AlpAvia: Slovenian charter airline AlpAvia also shut down in March 2026 over financial problems.
- H-Bird: Charter airline H-Bird was declared bankrupt by a Swedish judge after losing its operating license at the end of 2025.
Related: Another airline shut down in bankruptcy, to liquidate
