2026 has been a rough year for multiple smaller airlines hit with persistently high prices of jet fuel.

Animawings, a Romanian low-cost airline launched in 2020 running both commercial and charter flights to different cities in Europe and the Middle East, was forced to abruptly cancel all of its flights at the start of October.

The airline had earlier filed for insolvency proceedings at the Bucharest Tribunal on Sept. 30, citing “repeated technical problems affecting our fleet” along with an “economic backdrop that has further intensified this pressure” behind its financial situation.

“Flights scheduled during this period will be progressively canceled”: Animawings on fall and winter flights

After initially rejecting the request for bankruptcy proceedings to examine the creditor claims more thoroughly, Bucharest Tribunal officially approved Animwaings’ bankruptcy request on Oct. 28. This means that the airline is now officially insolvent while any flights the carrier was scheduled to run in the fall remain suspended until November 15.

“Following the ruling issued by the Bucharest Court on 14th of October 2026 and the measures required as part of the company’s reorganisation process, AnimaWings has been compelled to extend the temporary suspension of its flight operations until 15 November 2026, inclusive,” the airline states on its website.

Related: United Airlines cancels all flights to Mexican city due to low demand

The airline goes on to say that any “flights scheduled during this period will be progressively cancelled in our booking system, and affected passengers will receive notifications outlining the available options directly at the email addresses associated with their bookings.”

Other airlines that filed for bankruptcy in 2026:

  • Flamingo Air and Aerodiana: The regional airlines with large client bases among tourists to the Bahamas and Peru, respectively, currently have suspended AOCs after fatal accidents in their home countries that took place in July 2026.
  • Spirit Airlines: The largest airline shutdown of the year occurred when Spirit Airlines canceled all remaining flights on May 2. Although the airline had filed for Chapter 11 protection twice before, the skyrocketing price of jet fuel dealt the final blow.
  • Magnicharters: The Mexican low-cost airline ended up canceling all flights and filing for bankruptcy in a shutdown that left thousands stranded.
  • Starflite Aviation: The Houston-based carrier had its AOC license revoked in March 2026, amid FAA claims that owners falsified pilot training records to bypass safety audits.
  • AlpAvia: The Slovenian charter airline also shut down in March 2026 due to financial problems.

In the court documents, Animawings is listed as having 25 creditors of which many are aviation authorities like the Romanian Air Traffic Services Administration (ROMATSA) and the Bucharest Airports National Company while others are airports in Romanian cities such as Brasov, Craiova, Sibiu, and Cluj-Napoca.

Additional creditors include local banks and various other lenders.

Animawings is a Romanian low-cost airline flying since 2020.

Animawings

What is the state of the Animawings insolvency in 2026

The next steps in the bankruptcy process involve Animawings submitting a reorganization plan on how it plans to bring down its debt and reimburse creditors which needs to be filed by Nov. 6. Creditors have until Dec. 14 to submit claims that will be evaluated by the court.

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The airline’s total debt is listed as 157 million Romanian lei. or roughly $33 million USD. The airline brought in a profit in 2025 but the debts incurred through rising jet fuel and the extensive repairs needed on its entire fleet of six leased Airbus A220-300 aircraft ultimately failed to get Animawings out of the financial hole that led to the insolvency filing.

Related: Another low-cost airline files for bankruptcy protection