French Charter Firm faces liquidation

Financial records at French air ­charter operator Blue Line are being scrutinized following the company’s compulsory liquidation on October 6 with debts of €37 million ($52 million). The suddenness of the 200-employee company’s demise prompted the judge in charge of the liquidation to tap a certified public accountant to investigate Blue Line’s financial affairs. A preliminary report is to be released by year-end. Depending on the accountant’s findings, civil or legal action could follow, the official liquidator told AIN. The entire workforce is being laid off and all eight aircraft on Blue Line’s air operating certificate–three MD-83s, two Airbus A310s and three Fokker 100s–have been returned to their owners.