Feds Keep Close Watch On Markair

As MarkAir Inc. slowly returned its planes to operation Monday, federal officials admitted they have been monitoring the carrier a little more closely because of its bankruptcy filing.

“We’ve been maintaining extra surveillance on them since they moved from Anchorage; when we get any indication an airline is subject to stress - labor relations, bankruptcy - any area where they might skimp on maintenance (we step up surveillance),” said Mitch Barker, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman.

“They’re obviously under financial stress.”

The FAA grounded MarkAir Aug. 1 because of concerns about the maintenance of its planes. Three planes had been cleared to fly by Monday and were operating out of eight airports, Barker said.