Florida's Legends Airways acquires six Saab 340 freighters

US's Miami Air reapplies for permits after revocation

Miami Air (BSK, Miami Int'l) has requested expedited responses to its May 13 reapplication for certificates of public convenience and necessity for interstate and foreign charters after the US Department of Transportation (DOT) revoked its dormant permits earlier this month.

According to a regulatory notice, Miami Air (legally Miami Air International Inc.) has asked the DOT to shorten the answer period from June 3 to May 26 (Thursday this week). Counsel for Miami Air will conduct a poll of 27 airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to ascertain any objections to the motion.

As reported, the DOT on May 6 had revoked interstate certificates of public convenience and necessity issued to Miami Air by Order 2020-9-6 issued on September 15, 2020, by which it had authorised the transfer of Miami International's certificate of public convenience and necessity to a new Delaware-incorporated entity under the same name.

Miami Air had one year to commence operations, or its authority would become dormant and subject to revocation. The carrier, which is restarting under new...

US's Legends Airways eyes narrow-, widebody freighters

After an ad-hoc pivot to cargo operations during the COVID-19 pandemic, Legends Airways (DVY, Lakeland) has managed to improve its financial position so much that it is now planning to add ten jet freighters, local daily The Ledger has reported.

Before the pandemic, the regional specialist used to operate passenger charter flights using Jetstream 31s but lost all demand overnight as travel restrictions kicked in in March 2020, shortly after the carrier secured an undisclosed investment from a group of new shareholders, including John Hierl. Founder Daryl Hicks said Legends Airways was on the verge of closing down at the time when an industry colleague gave him the idea to transition to cargo operations. Legends initially operated its Jetstream 31s as makeshift freighters but subsequently retired them and recently acquired one Saab 340B(F) and five Saab 340B(Plus)(F)s (of which one has yet to be inducted).

"There was a short period of time where we were unhappy with the investment and unsure what to do because we were planning to operate with...

Bonaire's EZAir ends Beech 1900D operations

New Zealand winery punts virtual airline

Two New Zealand winemakers have decided to launch their own virtual airline dubbed Invivo Air (Auckland Int'l) after the same-named Auckland based winery.

A maiden flight has been punted for early 2022 from Auckland Int'l on North Island to Queenstown on South Island in a chartered 34-seater Saab (Sweden) aircraft - presumably a S340A or S340B - but to date, details of the service remain scant.

New Zealand residents above 18 years of age keen to travel on the first flight were asked to register their details on the company website by March 31, 2022, but no further details have been released. The company was not immediately available for comment.

According to a statement late last year, the aim of what is being punted as the world’s first ”winery airline” is to promote domestic tourism following the re-opening in December 2021 of Auckland’s borders after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Half of the seats on the maiden flight would be complimentary with priority given to Auckland hospitality and tourism...