Silverย Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has announced it is further expanding its extensive Florida networkย with new daily nonstop flights between Key West International Airport
(EYW) and Orlando International Airport (MCO) on June 12, 2014.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N341AG (msn 437) approaches the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).
Silver Airways:ย 
Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) is trimming back its route structure again. The regional carrier will drop most of its routes radiating from the Atlanta hub. The carrier issued this statement today:
As part of itsย plan to strengthen operations, increase revenue, reduce costs, andbetter position the airline for future growth and other opportunities,ย Silver Airways today announced plans to exit much of its Atlantaย network and redeploy its aircraft and team members to other keyย markets.
Silver has provided the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) withย the required 90-day notice of its intent to discontinue scheduledย service between Atlanta and five communities, including Muscle Shoals,
Alabama (MSL); Greenville, Mississippi (GLH); Laurel/Hattiesburg,ย Mississippi (PIB); Tupelo, Mississippi (TUP); and Meridian, Mississippiย (MEI).
Silver does intend, however, to continue operations between Atlanta andย Macon, Georgia (MCN), and between Macon and Orlando, Florida (MCO), asย well as between Atlanta and Greenbrier/Lewisburg, West Virginia (LWB).
The airline also confirmed that once operations at the affected communities are discontinued, all team members in good standing who wish to remain with Silver will be offered opportunities elsewhere.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N420XJ (msn 420) taxies at Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Silver Airways:ย 
Atlanta Route Map:
Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) has issued this statement to encourage the recruitment of more pilots:
As Silverย Airways continues to proactively pursue innovative initiatives toย attract and retain quality pilots, the next generation regional airline hasย announced it has increased its new hire signing bonus to $12,000.ย This doubles Silver’s previous signing bonus and is the highest pilotย bonus in the regional airline industry.
Silver began its pilot bonus program in November 2013, providingย qualified new first officers with a $6,000 signing bonus, half of which
is paid upon completion of initial training and the other half after aย pilot’s first year of service. This week, Silver doubled that bonus and
is now offering an additional $6,000 to be paid upon completion of twoย years of service.
This latest announcement is one of many proactive efforts underway atย Silver to attract and retain quality pilots and other team members. Onย March 17, 2014, the airline signed a preferential hiring agreement withย Broward College, which when added to its other aviation partnerships,ย will further assist the airline with finding top caliber new pilots. Inย addition, the airline is also investigating tuition assistance andย scholarship programs with these and other certified aviation collegesย and universities.
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N433XJ (msn 433) approaches the runway at Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
Silver Airways:ย
Current Route Map: Silver Airways has trimmed back its route map including ending Montana service due to the shortage of qualified pilots. The regional carrier is also phasing out all smaller Beech 1900Ds.
Lake Express Aviation (Pontiac, Michigan), which started scheduled passenger services between Pontiac and Chicago Midway on June 6, 2013 with four roundtrips, has suspended operations. Flights were operated by Pentastar Aviation Charter (Pontiac) using 30-seat SAAB 340B aircraft . The airline also operated between Chicago (Midway) and Pellston, Michigan which began in June 2011.
Yesterday, the CEO issued this statement (no April’s Fool joke):
Dear Lakeshore Customers:
As we look forward to serving you this 2014 summer season and beyond, we are going to take a short break. At this time, Lakeshore is cancelling all future flights. We are very sorry for any inconvenience this may cause; however, we are looking to establish a relationship with a new operating partner in order to restart service to our customers in the near future.
Full refunds will be granted for any existing reservations. Please feel free to contact us at any time by email (customerservice@lakeshoreexpress.com) regarding questions or concerns. We are building a stronger Lakeshore Express to serve you in the future!
Thank you,
Greg Stallkamp
CEO
Lakeshore Express
Copyright Photo: KenPetersen/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N9CJ (msn 224) was operated by Pentastar Aviation Charter.
Eastern Airways (Humberside and Aberdeen) is expanding the size of its SAAB 2000 fleet to nine aircraft with the introduction of an extra aircraft.
The regional airline, which provides a comprehensive domestic network of scheduled services, and is the UKโs leading provider of fixed wing air services for the oil and gas industry, will see the Saab 2000 entering service in the coming weeks.
The Swedish manufactured 50-seater SAAB 2000 is one of the worldโs fastest turbo-prop aircraft with its two Rolls Royce engines producing a cruising speed of 425 mph, and low fuel burn due to its efficiency.
This latest addition will be assigned to its charter services operating for the oil and gas industry, which also includes the recently awarded major contract with BP flying between Aberdeen and Sumburgh in the Shetland Isles.
Paul Alcock, Eastern Airwaysโ managing director, said: โThe SAAB 2000 is an extremely flexible aircraft that can operate on both short and longer runways, which is ideally suited to our long term charter services for the oil and gas industry.ย The aircraft type is also used on our scheduled network and to European destinations for ad-hoc charters.โ
SAAB 2000 aircraft were first introduced to Eastern Airways fleet in 2004 and the latest addition increases the fleet to nine.ย The airline is also the largest operator of British Aerospace Jetstream 41s in the world with a fleet of 18.ย The remainder of the fleet comprises of four regional jets, including two Embraer 135 and two Embraer 145 aircraft.
A network of services across to 20 airports in the UK, Norway and France is operated by the airline on a fleet of 31 regional aircraft (see route map below).
In January 2014, the airline started a new scheduled service between Leeds Bradford and Southampton and also launched its third domestic route in France with flights between Lorient and Lyon.
Copyright Photo: Ole Simon/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 2000 G-CDKA (msn 006) prepares to land in Stockholm (Arlanda).
Eastern Airways:ย
Seaborne Airlines (San Juan) starting today begins new nonstop daily service from Luis Munoz Marin International Airport inย San Juan, Puerto Ricoย (SJU) to The Princess Julianna International Airport (SXM) inย St. Maartenย becoming the 19thย airport Seaborne has launched during its expansion throughout theย Caribbean.
Nonstop Daily Flights:
San Juan, PR (SJU) Departure Timeย 6:45 pm
St. Maartenย (SXM) Arrival Timeย 7:45 pm
St. Maartenย (SXM) Departure Timeย 8:00 am
San Juan, PR (SJU) Arrival Timeย 9:10 am
Fares fromย San Juanย toย St. Maartenย begin as low asย $88ย 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:
Silver Airwaysย (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has secured up to $73 million in additional financing from GB Credit Partners LLC, the investment management affiliate of Gordon Brothers Group and Crystal Financial LLC. Victory Park Capital (Chicago), the investment firm that owns the airline, will maintain full ownership and control of the company.
Read the full statement:ย CLICK HERE
In other news, the regional airline and its pilots, represented by the Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224ย and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Airline Division (IBTAD), have announced they reached an agreement that will help address pilot shortages at the airline and provide Silverโs pilots with pay increases and quality of life improvements, according to a joint release from Silver Airways and Local 1224.
According to both parties, “the two groups have been working since August 2013 on a mid-term contract solution that will increase pilot pay and provide quality of life enhancements, while at the same time allowing the airline to better operate and continue to grow. Once ratified by the pilots, the letter of agreement will also assist the airline in attracting and retaining high quality pilots by immediately boosting pay, enhancing commuting and schedule flexibility, and allowing all pilots who remain with the Company for another year to earn a cash retention bonus.
The agreement was negotiated over the last several months, and it is being strongly endorsed by both the Silver Executive Council and the Teamster local. Final approval, however, is subject to ratification by Silverโs pilot membership.”
Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB 340B N415XJ (msn 415) taxies to the gate at the Washington Dulles International Airport hub.
Silver Airways:ย
Current Route Map:
Etihad Regional (Darwin Airline) (Lugano) SAAB 2000 HB-IZG was involved in a landing accident at Paris (Charles de Gaulle) on January 28. The aircraft was operating flight F7 250 from Leipzig with 16 passengers and three crew members. The nose gear was damaged on landing.
Read the full report from Express (with photo): CLICK HERE
Copyright Photo: Andi Hiltl/AirlinersGallery.com. SAAB HB-IZG (msn 010) arrives at Zurich before the incident.
Darwin Airline:
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).ย 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.
JetBlue Airways (New York) and Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood and Gainesville) announced the formation of an interline ticketing partnership to allow travelers to easily connect between the carriers’ networks via Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood, Orlando, Tampa or Fort Myers.
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