Troubled airline to fly its first passengers in 27 years
<p>Ever heard of Baltia Airlines? Neither have we, and for good reason – it hasn’t flown a single passenger in 27 years. But all that could be about to change thanks to new rebranding efforts.</p>
<p>Founded in 1989 by Latvian immigrant Igor Dmitrowsky, Baltia had big plans to connect New York with St Petersburg, along with routes to Belarus, Estonia, Ukraine and Georgia. But his dream never came to fruition.</p>
<p>Despite being granted permission in 1991 to fly to St Petersburg and Riga by the US Department of Transportation, the airline was never able to gain certification from the US’ air regulator, the Federal Aviation Authority. Why? Well, for nearly three decades, Baltia failed the FAA’s evaluation a staggering seven times due to faulty evacuation slides.</p>
<p>Now, 27 years later, they’re giving it one last shot and starting from scratch. Rebranded as USGlobal Airways, reports suggest the troubled carrier has taken on more experienced management and has even earned backing from Wall Street.</p>
<p>“Our new airline is well advanced in the process of restructuring, reorganising and refinancing,” the new company’s chairman, president and CEO, Anthony Koulouris, told <a href="http://www.insidertravelreport.com/baltia-startup-carrier-emerges-again-as-usglobal-airways" target="_blank"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Insider Travel Report</span></strong></a>. “[We hope] to receive US government regulatory approval and certification in the not too distant future in order to serve international routes to and from Stewart [International Airport in New York] that are currently poorly served or underserved.”</p>
<p>Do you think this last-ditch effort for survival will be a success? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.</p>
