ValuJet Cancels Holiday Flights

Thousands of travelers counting on ValuJet to fly them home for the holidays scrambled to make other arrangements after the airline canceled flights to Dallas and Fort Myers, Fla. ValuJet canceled its charters with Kiwi International Airlines on Saturday after the Newark, N.J.-based carrier failed to provide adequate crews and reliable service, ValuJet spokeswoman Marcia Scott said. ValuJet, a discount carrier based in Atlanta, was forced to charter flights from Kiwi, Sun Pacific Airlines and Spirit Airlines late last week. It had sold tickets to Dallas, Fort Myers and West Palm Beach, Fla., before receiving government approval to fly to those destinations. ValuJet’s problems with the flights began last week, when the Federal Aviation Administration refused to approve its request to expand its service and add five airplanes to its present 15 aircraft fleet.