Airline broke, students seek trip funds

GALESBURG, Mich. (WOOD) - A group of Galesburg-Augusta High School students is raising money after the parent company of the airline they booked for their senior trip filed for bankruptcy.

The 41 students were scheduled to fly to Orlando, Fla. April 20 with Direct Air. They paid $9,000 to the airline and now they're trying to raise money to book other flights.

The school said they've already paid for the hotel and transportation in Florida.

The principal said they can't find comparable airfare rates, so they need more money, about $10,000 in addition to the $3,000 they've already raised.

Andrea's Cafe & Pizza Too in Galesburg is donating 20% of its proceeds every Thursday to the trip.

McDonald's restaurant at 3900 Sprinkle Road in Kalamazoo will also donate a portion of its proceeds on March 28.

You can contact the high school if you'd like to make a private donation -- 269.484.2000.

Direct Air abruptly halted flights to each of the 17 cities it serves, claiming it couldn’t make its fuel payments. The company is expected to resume flights May 15. Its parent company -- Southern Sky Air & Tours LLC -- filed for Chapter 11 protection in Massachusetts. Court documents show the company has between $10 million and $50 million in debt and just $500,000 to $1 million in assets, according to reports.