Tag Archives: SAAB 340

A few PenAir flights are cancelled due to volcanic activity in Alaska

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) has issued this statement concerning a few flight cancellations of PenAir (Peninsula Airways) (Anchorage) in Alaska due to volcanic activity:

Few Alaska Airlines flights have been affected by volcanic activity from Mount Cleveland, located west of Dutch Harbor, and Mount Pavlof, located near Cold Bay, Alaska. No Alaska Airlines operated flights have been canceled at this time.

PenAir, which operates an average of three flights a day for Alaska Airlines between Anchorage and Dutch Harbor, canceled six flights yesterday and two flights today after several low-level eruptions of Mount Pavlof. The Anchorage-based airline could cancel additional flights today pending reports from the Alaska Volcano Observatory and other state and federal weather agencies.

PenAir’s Alaska Route Map:

“While the impact these volcanoes have had on Alaska Airlines has been minimal, we will continue to closely monitor Mount Cleveland and Mount Pavlof for any changes that could affect service to Bethel, Adak or Dutch Harbor,” said Ben Minicucci, Alaska Airlines’ chief operating officer.

Alaska Airlines operates an average of 125 daily flights to 20 destinations throughout the state of Alaska, in addition to 686 flights throughout the Lower 48, Hawaii, Canada and Mexico.

In other news, the eastern division of PenAir will start twice-daily service between Boston’s Logan International Airport and Long Island MacArthur Airport (Islip) on July 25, 2013.

East Coast Route Map:

Copyright Photo: Rainer Bexten. SAAB 340B N675PA (msn 206) with harbor seals on the fuselage arrives at Anchorage in the old livery.

PenAir:

Alaska Airlines:

Lakeshore Express to operate from Pontiac to Chicago Midway starting on June 6

Lakeshore Express Aviation is moving its base from Chicago (Midway) (MDW) to Pontiac, Michigan (Oakland County International Airport) (PTK) near Detroit. The charter airline will start scheduled passenger services between Pontiac and Chicago Midway on June 6 with four roundtrips per week according to the carrier’s website. The flights will depart from the Atlantic Aviation facility at MDW on the south side. Flights will depart from the private terminal at PTK on the southwest side of the airport.

Flights are operated by Pentastar Aviation Charter (Pontiac) using this 30-seat SAAB 340B. A service between Chicago (Midway) and Pellston, Michigan began in June 2011.

The current schedule between Chicago (Midway) and Pellston:

Top Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen. Formerly operated by Colgan Air, SAAB 340B N9CJ (msn 224) is now painted in the colors of Lakeshore Express.

Video:

Silver Airways is coming to Macon, Georgia

Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has been selected for Essential Air Service (EAS) authority to serve Macon, Georgia (MCN). The company expects to launch operations on April 1 to both Atlanta and Orlando (weekend only service) according to this report by The Telegraph.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. SAAB 340B N346AG (msn 446) completes its final approach into Washington Dulles International Airport.

Silver Airways:

Silver Airways’ CEO Darrell Richardson to retire after leading the company through its growth period

Silver Airways Corporation (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) announced that CEO Darrell Richardson (below) plans to retire from the company, capping a long and distinguished career in aviation. Mr. Richardson informed the Board of Directors of his decision and has received its full support. Silver’s board of directors is actively conducting a search for a new CEO; Mr. Richardson will remain in a consulting capacity until a transition is finalized. Richardson has also accepted an offer to join the Company’s board of directors.

Matthew Ray, Chairman of the Board for Silver Airways, commented on Richardson’s retirement, saying: “Darrell has played an integral role in building Silver Airways and we have realized many accomplishments under his leadership. His dedication and contributions, both strategically and operationally, have positioned us for continued future success. We now have a strong operating platform and bright future ahead. We could not be more thankful for Darrell’s leadership.”

The former CEO of Air Turks & Caicos and Pace Airlines, Mr. Richardson’s career in aviation spans more than 40 years and includes posts with such notable former and current carriers as Continental, Air Florida and Mesaba Airlines, where he served as Chief Operating Officer from 1995 to 2000. He started his career with Piedmont Airlines in 1968 after earning a BSEE degree from the Cook Institute of Technology. Mr. Richardson also holds an MBA in International Business and Finance from the University of Miami.

Silver Airways has grown tremendously during Mr. Richardson’s tenure. The far-flung carrier’s (see route maps below) fleet has grown to 13 Raytheon (Beechcraft) 1900Ds and 17 SAAB 340Bs (25 by the end on March). The feeder airline has taken on abandoned routes and cities that many major carriers no longer wanted to operate to and from.

Copyright Photo below: Brian McDonough. The SAAB 340B, discarded by many others, is becoming the backbone of the Silver Airways fleet. Former Mesaba Airlines SAAB 340B N402XJ (msn 402) taxies to runway 9L at Fort lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Silver Airways:

Route Maps (Silver Airways) operates in five distinct regions across the United States, ranging from one of the coldest to one of the warmest:

Billings, Montana: