Former Slovenian Flag Carrier Adria Airways Faces Extensive Compensation Claims From Airlines & Airports

Simple Flying

By Gaurav Joshi

Published Aug 19, 2022

The defunct airline's court cases are likely to drag on for a while.

Photo: Getty Images

It has been almost 3 years since Adria Airways formally declared bankruptcy, but issues related to its troubled finances continue to simmer. A massive list of airlines, airports, service providers, tour operators, and other stakeholders are demanding their money back as the defunct carrier struggles to procure the necessary funds.

The list of claimants is long

Former Slovenian flag carrier Adria Airways is battling claims amounting to more than €150 million ($151.5 million) as its bankruptcy proceedings continue to drag on. According to EX-YU Aviation, several airlines, including Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines, are demanding money back from Adria, which is now struggling to arrange funds to settle all the claims.

Photo: TravelingOtter via Wikimedia Commons

The list of airlines that have filed claims is long, and most of them worked with Adria as partner airlines for Star Alliance. The carriers that have come forward include Lufthansa, Austrian Airlines, the now-bankrupt Montenegro Airlines, Aeromexico, Shenzhen Airlines, Brussels Airlines, United, EVA Air, Air China, TAP Air Portugal, Ethiopian Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Thai Airways, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines, SAS, South African Airways, Egypt Air, Air New Zealand, Trade Air, Solinair, Air Serbia and Croatia Airlines.

Claims range from a few thousand Euros to millions. United Airlines and Turkish Airlines want €121,912 ($123,131) and €202,663 ($204,689) respectively, while Lufthansa is aiming for more than €6.6 million ($6.66 million).

Lufthansa Boeing 747 — Photo: Getty Images

Other stakeholders are demanding money, too

It's not just airlines but airports and service providers, too, that are seeking funds. Ljubljana, Belgrade, Pristina, Tirana, Manchester, Brussels, Copenhagen, Zurich, Berlin, London Southend, Antalya, Lugano, Trieste, Moscow Sheremetyevo, Sofia, and many other airports are waiting for compensation from the defunct company.

Adria Airways A319 at Manchester Airport June 2017

Several airports are also part of the list asking for money from Adria Airways. Photo: Transport Pixels via Wikimedia Commons

Then there are various service providers, leasing companies, and tour operators who are also owed thousands. The report says that the Serbia and Montenegro Air Traffic Services Agency (SMATSA) is asking for €81,642 ($82,458), of which Adria's bankruptcy administrator has recognized only €40,953 ($41,362) and refused the remaining amount due to a lack of sufficient evidence.

In fact, of the €150 million ($151.5 million) in claims, the carrier's bankruptcy administrator has recognized only €87.9 million ($88.78 Million) and is contesting the remaining amount.

Bankruptcy

Adria Airways' collapse dates back to June 2019, when the first signs of an imminent bankruptcy emerged. Following the formal declaration of bankruptcy, several of Adria's assets were sold off, including aircraft and branding.

The airline's AOC, website, headquarters, and several other assets have also been sold off to generate the much-needed funds, but they're not enough to cover all the claims.