Centurion Air Cargo is facing potential grounding following reports in US media stating that the carrier's fuel supplier, Chemoil Corp., has filed several lawsuits against it over US$12.9million in outstanding debt.
Chemoil has filed a total of eleven lawsuits extending to each aircraft - eight MD-11(F)s and three B747-400(F)s - in both the Centurion and its subsidiary SkyLease Cargo’s fleet.
Following Centurion's announcement in April that it would sell-off its fleet of MD-11(F)s in favour of more B747-400(F)s, Chemoil filed mechanic liens to prevent the sale until the debt was paid.
Chemoil has now exerted further pressure on Centurion by filing a new challenge that will force the airlines to auction their aircraft unless the bill, which varies from US$345,477 to US$2.2million for each aircraft, is paid.