Adria Airways' receiver Janez Pustatičnik has approved over half of the 150 million euros ($160m) worth of claims against the bankrupt Slovenian flag carrier this week. This totals 88 million Euros ($95m). Let's take a look at what money Adria Airways owes and to whom.

Adria Airways accrued 150m euros of debt

Slovenian Press Agency reports that the receiver of Adria Airways approved 88 million Euros ($95m) of claims against the bankrupt Slovenian airline. However, this is just 60% of the 150 million Euros ($160m) of claims made against the airline.

As a reminder, Adria Airways is in receivership following its bankruptcy in September 2019, which Simple Flying anticipated as early as June last year. The bankruptcy followed months of growing debt and unpaid claims, so it is unsurprising that the airline has left behind a relatively high level of debt for a company of its size.

Against these claims of 88 million euros ($95m), Adria's assets were valued at a significantly lower amount of 6 million euros ($6.5m). As a result of the discrepancy, it will be interesting to see how the receiver prioritizes the creditors as part of the bankruptcy proceedings.

Some of Adria Airways' assets have already been put on sale. The Air Operator Certificate was auctioned off and bought by the "King of Bananas", who presumably wants to establish a new airline in Slovenia with this asset. The entire Adria Airways uniform collection was also put on auction, but it attracted no bids.

Adria Airways A319
Two of Adria's Airbus A319s went to Air Serbia. Photo: Getty Images

Adria Airways creditors include Lufthansa

Among the approved claims, several stand out as fairly large sums. The largest claim that is not a loan is for 15.1 million euros ($16.3m) of unpaid wages to Adria Airways employees. This debt has been prioritized, but the unpaid wages alone exceed the total value of remaining Adria Airways assets, so it is unclear what the receiver will ultimately decide.

The last CEO of Adria Airways Holger Kowarsch, who is widely criticized for mismanaging the airline and leading it to bankruptcy, is claiming 67,000 euros ($73,000). Sven Kukemelk, who joined Adria months before its bankruptcy to run its flight school, is claiming for 47,700 euros ($51,500).

Adria Airways
Albania and Kosovo have moved on from Adria, but Slovenia has not. Photo: Getty Images

Other notable claims are from:

  • Lufthansa Group: 6.6 million Euros (one half for Lufthansa and the other half for Austrian Airlines)
  • AeroCentury Corp., an American aircraft operating lessor requested a total of 37.5 million Euros ($41m) but only had 4 million euros accepted
  • Rolls-Royce Corporation: 2 million euros ($2.2m)
  • EIC Aircraft Leasing, from Ireland: 4.5 million euros ($4.9m), of which some will be settled separately because of lien

The right to pursue a separate settlement has also been approved for Fraport Slovenia, the operator of Ljubljana Jože Pučnik Airport where Adria was based. Another airport where Adria held a substantial traffic share, Tirana Airport in Albania, is claiming 1.7 million euros ($2m).

Eurocontrol is also claiming, for 2 million euros ($2.2m). Other smaller claims against Adria Airways that were accepted come from Darwin Airline, Slovenia's tax revenue service, and Slovenia's health insurance and pension funds.

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