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Silver Airways to serve Cuba starting next year

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Silver Airways (Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood) has announced its intention to resume nonstop service to Cuba in 2016. The company has a long history of providing charter flights to Cuba, and given the announcement of a new bilateral agreement between Cuba and the U.S., Silver plans to bring much needed commercial service to many Cuban destinations in the near future. The airline will apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation to serve most, if not all, of the ten approved destinations within Cuba, including Havana.
In light of the recent Cuba announcement as well as several other exciting growth opportunities within Florida and the Caribbean, the board of directors of Silver Airways has initiated a process to evaluate a range of strategic alternatives for the airline. The company has engaged Raymond James as its financial advisor to assist in exploring potential strategic partnerships, growth investments, and a merger or ownership transition that would enhance Silver’s ability to capitalize on these attractive growth opportunities.
Over the past five years, Silver has been transformed from a regional express carrier into a successful independent airline providing important air service to otherwise unserved or underserved cities across Florida and the Bahamas. As part of this transformation, the company was rebranded as Silver Airways, upgraded its fleet to SAAB 340B+ aircraft, launched its own Sabre reservation system, relocated its maintenance headquarters to Orlando, strengthened the leadership team, and implemented valuable commercial partnerships with a number of larger carriers, including United and JetBlue. These initiatives have created a compelling value proposition and unique customer experience, and have driven Silver’s revenue to nearly triple since 2011. The board is now considering several opportunities that will accelerate growth and geographic expansion, including the opening of the Cuban market.
World Airline News

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Silver Airways, Florida’s largest intrastate airline, today announced its intention to resume nonstop service to Cuba in 2016. The company has a long history of providing charter flights to Cuba, and given the announcement of a new bilateral agreement between Cuba and the U.S., Silver plans to bring much needed commercial service to many Cuban destinations in the near future. The airline will apply to the U.S. Department of Transportation to serve most, if not all, of the ten approved destinations within Cuba, including Havana. Silver Airways has a robust Sabre distribution platform and its flights can be purchased on SilverAirways.com as well as through many online travel websites. With code share partners, United and JetBlue, and interline agreements with many other domestic and international airlines, Silver is extremely well positioned to operate nonstop scheduled service from various Florida points to Cuba, the Bahamas and further into the Caribbean.
In light of the recent Cuba announcement as well as several other exciting growth opportunities within Florida and the Caribbean, the board of directors of Silver Airways has initiated a process to evaluate a range of strategic alternatives for the airline. The company has engaged Raymond James as its financial advisor to assist in exploring potential strategic partnerships, growth investments, and a merger or ownership transition that would enhance Silver’s ability to capitalize on these attractive growth opportunities.
Over the past five years, Silver has been transformed from a regional express carrier into a successful independent airline providing important air service to otherwise unserved or underserved cities across Florida and the Bahamas. As part of this transformation, the company was rebranded as Silver Airways, upgraded its fleet to Saab 340B+ aircraft, launched its own Sabre reservation system, relocated its maintenance headquarters to Orlando, strengthened the leadership team, and implemented valuable commercial partnerships with a number of larger carriers, including United and JetBlue. These initiatives have created a compelling value proposition and unique customer experience, and have driven Silver’s revenue to nearly triple since 2011. The board is now considering several opportunities that will accelerate growth and geographic expansion, including the opening of the Cuban market.
“We have made tremendous strides as an airline and have successfully accomplished the main objectives the board set out for us. With tremendous opportunities in Cuba now emerging just off the shores of our primary market, it is exactly the right time to pursue strategic alternatives for our airline,” said Silver Airway’s CEO Sami Teittinen. “As the board undertakes this process, Silver remains focused first and foremost on operating at the highest level of safety and looks forward to expanding our scheduled service to new Cuban destinations in the near future.”
Business Wire

US-Mexico becomes Open Sky

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NEW YORK, NY–(Marketwired – December 18, 2015) – JetBlue Airways (JBLU) today applauded the United States Department of Transportation on its announcement of a liberalized aviation treaty with the government of Mexico.
The agreement, signed today in Washington, lifts longstanding restrictions on the number of carriers allowed to operate on any given route between the U.S. and Mexico, opening the door for carriers to add unlimited new transborder air service effective January 1, 2016.
“On behalf of JetBlue’s 18,000 Crewmembers, I applaud the U.S. Government for its diligence in securing a forward-thinking aviation treaty with Mexico,” said Robin Hayes, JetBlue president and CEO. “Across the globe the U.S.-led liberalization of the skies has proven to increase travel options for consumers, grow jobs and strengthen economies. JetBlue is delighted with this development which will put our airline a step closer to being able to increase service to Mexico. We look forward to working with DOT to remove the remaining barriers to entry that smaller carriers like JetBlue continue to face when expanding.”
JetBlue, which operates an extensive network across Latin America and the Caribbean, has served Mexico since 2006. Today the airline operates low-fare service to Cancún and Mexico City from several U.S. gateways including Boston; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Fla.; New York-JFK; and Orlando, Fla.
Yahoo Finance

DL-1150 rejects take-off because of engine failure

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A Delta Airlines Boeing 767-300, registration N193DN performing flight DL-1150 from Honolulu,HI to Los Angeles,CA (USA), was accelerating for takeoff from Honolulu’s runway 08R when the right hand engine (PW4060) emitted a bang followed by vibrations prompting the crew to reject takeoff at high speed. The aircraft vacated the runway via the first high speed exit about 2400 meters down the runway and returned to the terminal.
A passenger reported the aircraft was about 1000 feet into its takeoff roll from the reef runway when the right hand engine emitted a loud bang followed by moderate vibrations. The crew rejected takeoff and returned the aircraft to the apron.
A replacement Boeing 767-300 registration N154DL reached Los Angeles with a delay of 4 hours.
The occurrence aircraft remained on the ground in Honolulu until Dec 16th, then was ferried to Atlanta,GA (USA) and is now still on the ground in Atlanta.
The Aviation Herald