June 05--COLONIE -- The bankruptcy reorganization of Pinnacle Airlines could cost the Albany County Airport Authority as much as $200,000, airport board members were told at their meeting Monday night.
Pinnacle and its subsidiary Colgan Air operated 20 flights a day on average at Albany when the Memphis-based regional carrier filed for Chapter 11 reorganization at the beginning of April.
The carrier flew regional flights under contract with United, US Airways and Delta.
It plans to end flying for US Air and United, but will continue to operate regional flights for Delta.
"Delta's been paying their fees up front" to Albany International Airport, the airport's chief financial officer, Bill O'Reilly, told the board Monday.
"Pinnacle owed us some money," he said. "The payouts they made before bankruptcy could be clawed back," he added, meaning that the authority might have to return some of the payments.
O'Reilly estimated total exposure at about $200,000.
Meanwhile, the board decided to continue planning for expansion of a maintenance hangar used by Colgan, although the airline plans to discontinue flying the Q400 turboprops that are housed there.
Airport officials expect another carrier will pick up the Colgan and Pinnacle flights and would need the space.
Construction work on the project hasn't yet started.
Airport CEO John O'Donnell said the expanded hangar is large enough to accommodate the regional jets serving Albany.
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Copyright 2012 - Times Union, Albany, N.Y.
