Pinnacle Airlines, the Memphis-based regional carrier for three major airlines that suffered a 2009 crash outside of Buffalo killing 50 people, has brought in PR support as it enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy to implement a turnaround plan.
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher New York-based partner Michael Feitag and director Nicholas Lamplough are supporting communications for Pinnacle, which plans to restructure its operating agreement with Delta Air Lines and end affiliations with United Airlines and US Airways. It had operated Delta Connection, United Express and US Airways Express flights for those major carriers.
Delta has secured $74.3M in financing for Pinnacle, which listed $1.42B in debt against $1.54B in assets in its bankruptcy filing April 2.
Pinnacle is cutting loose its Colgan Air unit, which operated the plane that crashed in 2009 under the Continental Connection name. Dix & Eaton had advised the company on PR since the accident.