GREAT LAKES Aviation suspended flights on 16 May in the face of a US Federal Aviation Administration-imposed shutdown because of alleged deficiencies with maintenance operations.
The action forced codeshare partners United Airlines and Midway Airlines to accommodate stranded passengers. Great Lakes served 82 cities in 21 US states and three cities in Mexico. It operated about 500 flights a day, carrying nearly 900,000 passengers annually. Great Lakes Aviation hoped to resume some flights on 22 May.
The FAA alleges that the regional carrier based in Spencer, Iowa, allowed unqualified mechanics to work on the company's 53 turboprops, including 41 Beech 1900s and 12 Embraer EMB 120s.
Source: Flight International
