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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) -
The nation's financially troubled airline industry provided more than 100 free flights to take survivors of Hurricane Katrina out of New Orleans over Labor Day weekend, according to a published report.
USA Today reports that the Air Transport Association, the trade group representing most major airlines, arranged for 140 flights by 15 airlines from Friday through Tuesday, taking storm refugees to sites around the country selected by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The inbound flights to New Orleans carried emergency supplies, according to the newspaper.
"It's amazing how it all came together," ATA spokesman Jack Evans said. Airlines haven't sought payment, Evans said. FEMA may reimburse them for fuel and insurance.
The airlines have been particularly hard-hit by the spike in fuel prices that occurred since the Hurricane, and several were struggling even before the latest price increases.
Delta Air Lines (Research), which analysts believe could file for bankruptcy protections later this month, operated 20 flights out of New Orleans since Friday, carrying about 2,000 people, airline spokeswoman Chris Kelly told the newspaper. United Airlines (Research), which has been in bankruptcy since December 2002, operated "about a dozen flights" from New Orleans until Monday, spokesman Jeff Green said.
The newspaper reports that Northwest Airlines (Research), which has warned it might be forced to file for bankruptcy, also participated in the airlift, as did US Airways (Research) and ATA Airlines (Research), which both filed for bankruptcy protection in 2004.
Other financially healthier airlines providing flights include Houston-based Continental Airlines (Research) and JetBlue (Research). Each operated seven flights from New Orleans, the newspaper reported. American Airlines (Research), the world's largest airline, operated eight flights, the paper said. Alaska Air (Research) America West Airlines (Research), Southwest Airlines (Research), and Air Canada also took part in airlifting evacuees.
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For the latest on the bankruptcy threat at Northwest Airlines, click here.
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