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Delta Air Lines sues Sun Jet over Dallas services, lease By TED JACKOVICS of The Tampa Tribune
LARGO - Delta Air Lines has filed a $462,000 lawsuit against Sun Jet Airlines, saying the Largo- based carrier failed to pay for office space and ground handling services Delta provided at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.The lawsuit filed Monday in Pinellas Circuit Court seeks $462,063 plus interest and attorney's fees from Sun Jet, which has faced cash-flow problems in recent months.
Sun Jet contracted with Delta for ground handling Stock Close Chg. Delta 88 5/8 + 5/8 services in May 1994 and agreed to sublease office facilities from Delta in September 1995, the lawsuit stated. Sun Jet failed to pay in full despite demands and invoices, according to the lawsuit. ``I haven't heard from any of Sun Jet's attorneys since the lawsuit was filed,'' Miguel M. de la O, a Miami-based lawyer representing Delta, said Tuesday. De la O said it was possible the matter could be handled out of court.
Sun Jet had discussed paying the bill, but it was not paid by a certain date and Delta decided to file suit, he said.
John Mansour, owner of Sun Jet, was not available for comment.
Sun Jet, a scheduled charter carrier, served Dallas with flights to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International, Newark and Long Beach, Calif.
The airline recently discontinued its Florida to Texas flights despite favorable traffic after reducing the fleet of MD-80 aircraft it leases from six to four.
It was behind on payments to six airports and to other vendors, former Sun Jet President David Banmiller said.
Banmiller resigned April 3 to pursue other opportunities after reorienting the company's focus following what he called stiff price competition from major carriers.
The airline revised its operating philosophy in March to concentrate more on its charter business.
It restructured an agreement with an Atlanta airline outsourcing company to handle Sun Jet's operations beyond aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance matters.
Banmiller said shortly after resigning that the airline's finances were stable and would go forward.
Sun Jet has not paid $36,003 it owes St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport, an airport official said Tuesday.
The airline and airport officials exchanged letters last week on the issue, with the airport requesting specifics on a Sun Jet offer to prepare a plan to repay the money, said Jeff Noa, the airport's administrative manager.
