Aha Airlines flights from Medford to Reno are grounded after the airlines’ parent company filed for bankruptcy. [Mail Tribune/file photo]
The planes flew directly from Medford to the Nevada airport
Less than a year after it began serving Rogue Valley-Medford International Airport, Aha Airlines’ direct flights to the Reno and Lake Tahoe area in Nevada have been halted due to bankruptcy.
Atlanta-based ExpressJet Airlines, the parent company of Aha Airlines, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Tuesday and ceased all flight operations on Wednesday due to a combination of economic conditions and market, the company announced.
Aha Airlines first took off from Medford Airport on October 31, 2021. It specialized in transporting passengers from West Coast cities directly to Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Reno, Nevada . Medford Airport celebrated the launch of the nonstop flights with an arch ceremony with sprinkles, and the airline offered $49 one-way tickets.
Rogue Valley-Medford International Airport Director Jerry Brienza could not immediately be reached for comment on how the airline’s bankruptcy is affecting the airport and customers. The airport is served by a variety of airlines.
Aha Airlines customers who have booked future flights should contact their credit card companies to request ticket refunds. ExpressJet Airlines is not assisting with ticket refunds or alternative travel arrangements, the company said.
For instructions on how to get a refund from credit card companies, see flyaha.com. The website also has instructions for filing a bankruptcy claim for those who cannot get compensation through a credit card claim.
ExpressJet Airlines does not pay for lost, damaged or stolen baggage. Customers will have to file a claim through bankruptcy proceedings, the company said.
The company said the emergence of variants of the COVID-19 virus that prolonged the pandemic, a lack of available aircraft and high costs, including fuel, reduced revenue. Aha was supposed to stand for “air, hotel, adventure,” but the company failed to launch the flight and hotel packages that were part of its business plans.
Contact Mail Tribune reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or valdous@rosebudmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @VickieAldous.
