French airline files lawsuits against Crossair
The French airline, Air Lib, and its parent company, Holco SAS, have filed lawsuits against subsidiaries of Switzerland's collapsed airline, Swissair.
The two companies, which filed the lawsuits in France and Switzerland, are claiming SFr670 million ($405.3 million) in damages. They argue that an agreement concluded with Swissair in August this year had not been respected.
Air Lib – previously known as AOM/Air Liberté – and Holco SAS say that Switzerland’s regional carrier, Crossair, is tied to the agreement, because it was formerly part of Swissair.
“Swissair is insolvent,” said Pascal Perri, adviser to Air Lib. “This is why we are focusing on Swissair’s subsidiaries, which are still liquid.”
Crossair rejects accusations
However, Crossair has rejected the suit, saying it was “unfounded”.
“We had no knowledge of the agreement,” Crossair said on Tuesday in a statement.
Both French companies have also expressed their right to an additional SFr89 million ($53.8 million), which they say Swissair owes them as former shareholder. Swissair formerly had a 49.5 per cent stake in AOM/Air Liberté.
Other lawsuits have been launched since Swissair collapsed. The Belgian authorities and Belgium’s national carrier, Sabena, have filed a SFr1.47 billion lawsuit against the Swiss carrier, which had a 49.5 per cent stake in Sabena.
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