3 Airports Say TWA’s Payments Are Late

Trans World Airlines Inc. is late paying landing and rental fees and is in danger of losing landing privileges at some airports, according to several airports around the country.

The struggling St. Louis-based airline’s accounts are past due at airports in Denver, San Francisco and Dallas-Fort Worth. The fees generally cover landing and gate privileges, and ticket counter and office space.

TWA is up to date with its payments at its two biggest hubs, Lambert-St. Louis International and New York’s John F. Kennedy International airports, according to representatives for the airports.

The Denver International airport sent TWA a certified letter advising the airline that it is in arrears on about $1 million, said Chuck Cannon, a spokesman for the airport.

If TWA doesn’t pay the Denver airport by Monday, the airport said it will send TWA a notice that its privileges may be suspended. If payment isn’t made 60 days after that, TWA would no longer be able to land there unless it paid fees in cash, Cannon said.

The Denver airport has a letter of credit of $1.1 million from TWA that it would use to pay the outstanding debt if TWA was unable to do so. The airport has yet to draw upon the credit, Cannon said.

At San Francisco International airport, TWA hasn’t made a payment since the first week in February, said Ron Wilson, an airport spokesman. The airline owes $977,000, he said. If the airport doesn’t receive a payment by next week, it too will send a termination notice, Wilson said.

“We want to see them have a presence at the San Francisco airport, but we can’t go on forever and not get paid for space and landing fees,” Wilson said.