Pinnacle Emerges from Bankruptcy, Now Owned by Delta
Pinnacle expects to fly 81 Bombardier CRJ900s by the end of next year. (Photo: Bombardier)
Pinnacle expects to fly 81 Bombardier CRJ900s by the end of next year. (Photo: Bombardier)

Memphis-based Pinnacle Airlines on Wednesday officially emerged from bankruptcy as a wholly owned regional subsidiary of Delta Air Lines. Under Chapter 11 protection for the past 13 months, the airline underwent an extensive restructuring that saw its fleet shrink from a peak of 291 airplanes to its present complement of 46 CRJ900s and 140 CRJ200s. In the process it closed its Colgan Air unit, ending its relationship with United Airlines and, ultimately, easing the transition to an ownership takeover by Delta.