Direct Air suspends flights til mid-May

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) - Direct Air, which flies out of the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport, appears has suspended all flights through May 15.

Ticket holders were told to contact their credit card companies for refunds.

Based in Myrtle Beach, Direct Air operates flights from Kalamazoo to Orlando and Fort Myers/Punta Gorda, Florida.

A spokesman for the Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport told 24 Hour News 8 they have unable to reach Direct Air. On Monday, a flight left for Orlando on time and carried about 150 passengers. 

The Executive Director of the Charlotte County Airport Authority, Gary Quill - which operates the airport in Punta Gorda - told24 Hour News 8 Direct Air buys fuel for its planes from a broker. Monday, that broker decided to cut the company off.  

With no fuel the airline is unable to operate flights.  

Quill said he is also unable to reach the airline.  When asked what he thinks West Michigan passengers in Florida should do, Quill responded, "I would be making alternative arrangements."  

A spokesperson for the Orlando Sanford International Airport in Florida told 24 Hour News 8 they are also unable to reach the airline.

The airline serves 17 cities in the Midwest, East and South. It is unclear how many travelers were affected.

Associated Press Airlines writer Samantha Bomkamp contributed to this report.