Ailing airline ending flights to 2 Kansas, 3 Nebraska cities

A financially strapped airline providing govt-subsidised service to 3 cities in Nebraska and 2 in Kansas plans to end the service later this month, leaving those communities' air travelers without commercial flights. PenAir notified the US DoT last week that service to Kearney, North Platte and Scottsbluff in Nebraska and to Dodge City and Liberal in Kansas will cease after Sunday. The carrier filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganisation plan last month and said that in addition to closing down operations for Nebraska and Kansas, it also planned to close its hubs in Denver and Portland. PenAir officials said last week that they intended to continue the essential air service at the 5 communities until replacement carriers were selected and in place. But "a massive exodus" of the airline's pilots necessitated the quick action. <br/>