Category Archives: Seaborne Airlines

Seaborne adds a mask to SAAB 340B N336SA

Seaborne Airlines has joined the mask-wearing effort on flights by painting one of their SAAB 340B aircraft (N336SA) with a mask on the nose.

Seaborne Airlines serves San Juan Airport, St. Thomas Airport, and Seaplane base, St. Croix Airport, and Seaplane base, Anguilla, Antigua, Tortola, Dominica, St. Maarten, Nevis, St. Kitts. Also flying to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic for a limited time.

Silver Airways is a U.S. Airline operating over 100 daily scheduled flights between gateways in Florida and the Bahamas. The company is owned by Versa Capital Management, LLC, a Philadelphia-based private equity investment firm. Silver Airways is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale (Florida) with a maintenance facility based at Orlando International Airport in Florida.

Hector Rivera reporting from Puerto Rico.

Silver Airways completes its acquisition of Seaborne Airlines, the brand will continue

Silver Airways and Seaborne Airlines on April 23, 2018 announced that Silver’s acquisition of Seaborne’s business and assets has successfully been closed, creating a leading independent airline to serve the Caribbean, Bahamas, Florida, and beyond.

The acquisition brings together two strong independent airlines with similar SAAB 340B fleets, complementary route networks, and common codeshare/interline partners.

With the upcoming deployment of Silver’s recently announced new fleet of state-of-the-art ATR 42-600s across both networks, the combined airline will have an expanded range, allowing it to better serve passengers and markets while creating more opportunities for employees and greater value for its business partners.

The combined airline will continue operating Silver’s route network in the Bahamas, Florida, and beyond under the Silver Airways banner and Seaborne’s route network throughout Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Caribbean under the Seaborne name.

The total fleet now consists of 31 aircraft, including SAAB 340s and de Havilland Twin Otter seaplane aircraft.

Steve Rossum of Silver Airways will serve as CEO of the combined airline. Ben Munson will resume his role as president of aviation consulting firm Embark Aviation, and continue as a valued advisor to the company.

The combined airline will employ nearly 1,000 aviation professionals and will be headquartered at Silver Airways’ offices in Fort Lauderdale under the leadership of executives from both Silver and Seaborne.

Corporate and operations support functions will continue at locations in Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, San Juan, and St. Croix, U.S.V.I.

Seaborne aircraft slide show:

Silver Airways route map:

Seaborne Airlines route map:

Seaborne Airlines files for reorganization, signs agreement to be acquired by Silver Airways

Seaborne Airlines (San Juan) has released this statement:

Sea Star Holdings Inc., parent company for Seaborne Puerto Rico LLC, Seaborne Virgin Islands, Inc. and affiliates, announced the company has commenced a voluntary Chapter 11 reorganization proceeding under Title 11 of the US Code in order to implement new financing and a sale to affiliates of Silver Airways, LLC.

The Company will continue its business without interruption, including all existing flight operations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and throughout the Caribbean. Tickets held by customers will continue to be valid and Seaborne will be taking bookings for future travel, as normal.

Seaborne also announced that it has secured a new $4.2 million credit facility and concurrently entered into a Purchase Agreement (subject to court approval and potential overbids) to sell substantially all of its business and assets to Silver Airways. This will facilitate a combination between Seaborne and Silver Airways, creating the industry’s leading regional carrier in the Caribbean, Florida, and the Bahamas.

“While the Company’s business has enjoyed a remarkable recovery since the 2017 hurricanes, the financial stress caused during the recovery period coupled with legacy liabilities have made it necessary to seek reorganization protection,” said Ben Munson, Acting CEO of Seaborne Airlines. “Our day to day operations will continue as normal, and this process will be in the best interests of all of our customers and stakeholders.”

Passenger service and safety will continue to be top priorities for the company. Seaborne will operate normal flight schedules and conduct business as usual, honoring all ticketed reservations and rules of the company’s Contract of Carriage. The company will also maintain our codeshare partnerships that facilitate easy connections to partner airlines and our Seamiles program will remain active.

Seaborne Airlines, the largest Caribbean based regional airline for 25 years, operates iconic seaplanes and an airport based fleet that service the beautiful islands throughout the Caribbean, carrying approximately 3 million customers safely. With over 1,500 monthly departures to 12 airports, Seaborne serves San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport, St. Thomas airport, and Seaplane base, St. Croix airport and Seaplane Base, Anguilla, Antigua, Dominica, Saint Maarten, St. Kitts, Tortola, and Nevis. All Flights operate with two pilots and two engines.

Above Copyright Photo (all others by Seaborne Airlines): Seaborne Airlines SAAB 340B N283AE (msn 283) (Seahorse) SJU (Raul Sepulveda). Image: 922659.

Seaborne Airlines aircraft slide show:

Route Map:

JetBlue Airways and Seaborne Airlines launch their new codeshare agreement

JetBlue Airways (New York) and Seaborne Airlines (St. Croix and San Juan) on October 21 began selling flights under a codeshare agreement that will offer customers increased travel options and new destinations throughout the Caribbean. Connections will be made via San Juan’s Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport (SJU), where JetBlue is the largest carrier.

Initially, JetBlue has placed its ‘B6’ designator code on eight Seaborne Airlines routes allowing JetBlue customers to reach more destinations in the Caribbean on a single itinerary:

Anguilla (AXA)
Tortola, British Virgin Islands (EIS)
Dominica (DOM)
Nevis (NEV)
St. Kitts (SKB)
St. Maarten (SXM)
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT)
St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX)

Following receipt of all necessary government approvals, JetBlue will place the ‘B6’ designator code on the remainder of the Seaborne Airlines network to include:

Antigua (ANU)
Fort-de-France, Martinique (FDF)
La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM)
Point-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe (PTP)
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ)
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)

In other news, JetBlue today also announced its intent to expand the airline’s service to Barbados by adding a daily roundtrip flight between Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL) and Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) in Barbados.

The new daily roundtrip service is set to begin in April 2016, subject to government approval, with seats going on sale in the coming weeks. JetBlue’s Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood focus city will become the third JetBlue city with nonstop flights to Barbados. Service from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) launched in 2009 and service from Boston’s Logan International Airport (BOS) will begin this fall.

Top Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N341CJ (msn 341) with the image of a sea turtle on the tail, taxies at the San Juan hub.

JetBlue Airways aircraft slide show:

Seaborne Airlines aircraft slide show:

Seaborne Airlines Route Map:

AirEuropa and Seaborne Airlines to codeshare

Air Europa (stylized as AirEuropa) (Palma de Mallorca and Madrid) continues its expansion throughout the Caribbean by connecting its daily flight between Spain and the Dominican Republic with its neighbor, Puerto Rico. The Globalia Group Airline and Seaborne Airlines (San Juan), a Puerto Rican airline, have reached a codeshare agreement to cover the route Santo Domingo – San Juan, Puerto Rico, which will allow for daily flights to and from the islands and, as a result, the connection of both capitals with the Adolfo Suarez Airport in Madrid (Barajas).

This will permit Air Europa passengers to fly to Puerto Rico every day, by making a short stop in Las Americas Airport in Santo Domingo. This route will be added to the two direct flights that Air Europa has been operating between Spain and Puerto Rico since June 2014.

Seaborne is a company with over 20 years of experience in the Caribbean and an excellent security and operational performance history. For the Santo Domingo – San Juan route, it has an available fleet of 8 SAAB 340Bs, Swedish-made aircraft that can carry 34 passengers.

The codeshare agreement between Air Europa and Seaborne will take effect March 29.

AirEuropa aircraft slide show:

Seaborne Airlines aircraft slide show:

Seaborne Airlines starts San Juan-Santo Domingo flights

Seaborne Airlines (St. Croix and San Juan) has announced that its nonstop daily service from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan (SJU) to Las Americas International Airport in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ) started on April 15 2014.

Seaborne now serves 18 airports throughout the Caribbean.

Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N283AE (msn 283) with the Seahorse on the tail taxies at the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport hub.

Seaborne Airlines:

Video: Seaborne Airlines also operates the Twin Otter with floats. Here is a day in the life of a Twin Otter pilot:

Current Route Map:

Seaborne Airlines today starts San Juan-St. Maarten flights

Seaborne Airlines (San Juan) starting today begins new nonstop daily service from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) to The Princess Julianna International Airport (SXM) in St. Maarten becoming the 19th airport Seaborne has launched during its expansion throughout the Caribbean.

Nonstop Daily Flights:

San Juan, PR (SJU) Departure Time 6:45 pm

St. Maarten (SXM) Arrival Time 7:45 pm

St. Maarten (SXM) Departure Time 8:00 am

San Juan, PR (SJU) Arrival Time 9:10 am

Fares from San Juan to St. Maarten begin as low as $88 one way, taxes and fees included.

Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda/AirlinersGallery.com. Seaborne has embraced the Pacific Coastal livery as its own with its SAAB 340 fleet. The carrier has modified the tail emblems to more appropriate Caribbean animals. SAAB 340B N353SA (msn 351) sits on the San Juan ramp.

Current Route Map: Seaborne’s expanding route system with an enlarged SJU hub:

Seaborne Airlines to move its headquarters to San Juan, will add more routes and a new name

Seaborne Airlines (St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) announced yesterday that it has reached agreement with the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to relocate its corporate headquarters from St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands to San Juan, Puerto Rico, as part of a multi-faceted arrangement. Under the agreement, Puerto Rico will take an equity position in the airline and have two seats on the Board of Directors of the parent company of Seaborne, Coastal International Airways. Seaborne Airlines has committed to the creation of 400 jobs in Puerto Rico. 150 of the 400 positions will be added in Puerto Rico in the first quarter of 2014. This will bring total Seaborne employment in Puerto Rico to 250 people. The move is contemplated to be complete by March, 2014.

Seaborne will also add a number of routes important to Puerto Rico’s tourism and export growth. On December 12, the carrier started service from San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport to La Romana in the Dominican Republic. On January 15, the carrier will add service from San Juan to St. Kitts and Nevis. On February 14, Seaborne plans to begin service from San Juan to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. On March 1, new service from San Juan to St. Maarten, Seaborne’s 16th airport will launch. These San Juan routes are being serviced by four additional SAAB 340B, 34-seat aircraft. Seaborne anticipates having a fleet of 16 SAAB 340Bs based in Puerto Rico.

There will be no change to the existing routes, or Seaplane operations in the U.S. Virgin Islands, is planned as a result of this agreement.

The agreement also calls for rebranding of Seaborne’s San Juan-based operations.

Video:

Seaborne Airlines starts San Juan-La Romana flights

Seaborne Airlines (Christiansted, St. Croix and San Juan) has started new service from San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport (SJU) to La Romana International Airport in La Romana, Dominican Republic (LRM). Seaborne’s new route represents the only nonstop service from San Juan to La Romana.

Currently operating Thursday and Sunday, Seaborne will offer daily service effective on March 15, 2014.

Seaborne also recently announced new service between Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and St Kitt’s Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), with continuous service to Nevis’ Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV), beginning on Wednesday, January 15, 2014.

Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda/AirlinersGallery.com. Seaborne has been adding SAAB 340B turboprops to its fleet. N353SA (msn 351), still in the basic Pacific Coastal livery, prepares to depart from the SJU hub.

Seaborne Airlines to expand to St. Kitts, will add four more SAAB 340Bs in 2014

Seaborne Airlines (Christiansted, St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands) announced that they will launch a new route between Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) and St Kitt’s Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport (SKB), with continuous service to Nevis’ Vance W. Amory International Airport (NEV), beginning Wednesday, January 15th, 2014. The flights will operate daily.

Seaborne will operate 34-seat SAAB 340B aircraft with two pilots, a flight attendant and the outstanding in-flight service Seaborne is known for. Whether for local Puerto Rican visitors or connecting customers from the states, Seaborne’s schedule makes Caribbean travel easy.

Departing from SJU:	3:25 PM	Arriving SKB	4:50 PM
Departing from SKB:	5:10 PM	Arriving NEV	5:30 PM (Customers stay on the plane at SKB)
Departing from NEV:	7:00 AM	Arriving SKB	7:20 AM (Customers stay on the plane at SKB)
Departing from SKB:	7:50 AM	Arriving SJU	9:00 AM

Seaborne also announced the addition of four more 34-seat SAAB 340B aircraft in the first half of 2014. “These planes will increase our Caribbean fleet to thirteen aircraft, providing travelers throughout the Caribbean with even more travel options and the service they deserve”, said Gary Foss, President and Chief Executive Officer of Seaborne Airlines.

Copyright Photo: Raul Sepulveda/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N353SA (msn 351) in the Pacific Coastal colors awaits the next assignment at the San Juan hub.

Route Map: