North America airline suspensions, country closures 23-29MAR

Cayman Airways issues RFP for a Twin Otter

Cayman Airways mulls mid-sized turboprops, looks for DHC-6

Cayman Airways (KX, Grand Cayman Island) is analysing its future regional fleet strategy and hopes to replace both its Saab 340B(Plus) and DHC-6-300s with a new mid-sized type, Chief Executive and President Fabian Whorms told the Cayman Compass. Meanwhile, the airline is looking for a third Twin Otter.

"We are going to have to make some sort of a plan to replace the Saab (Sweden) [aircraft]. This is not for tomorrow, but ideally, we would like to replace them with a type that can also fulfil the missions that the Twin Otters currently fulfil... Then we would just have two types [in the fleet], which would make us more efficient," he said.

The ch-aviation fleets advanced module shows that subsidiary Cayman Airways Express currently operates two Saab 340B(Plus), which are 25.1 years old on average, and two DHC-6-300s, which are 44.7 years old on average. Both types are used domestically, connecting Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Brac Island, and Little Cayman. Whorms stressed that currently, Little Cayman airport...

Cayman Airways ends B737 Classic operations

Cayman Airways (KX, Grand Cayman Island) has transitioned to an all-B737 MAX fleet following the retirement of its last B737 Classic jets.

A press release said B737-300s VP-CKW (msn 26322) and VP-CKZ (msn 27626) were officially withdrawn from service on October 18, 2021 and October 25, 2021 respectively. VP-CKW’s last passenger flight was on May 17, 2021, from Cayman Brac Island to Grand Cayman Island after which it was ferried to Victorville on October 19 while VP-CKZ operated its last passenger flight for Cayman Airways on June 26, 2021, after which it was ferried to Victorville on October 25.

As it stands, the state-owned carrier's fleet now consists of three B737-8s, leased from Air Lease Corporation, while its Cayman Airways Express (Grand Cayman Island) subsidiary operates two DHC-6-300s and two S340B(Plus)es.

Cayman Airways granted another $8.5mn gov't lifeline

The Cayman Islands parliament has approved another KYD7 million Caymanian dollar (USD8.5 million) in rescue aid to Cayman Airways (KX, Grand Cayman Island) to make up for revenue shortfall due to the COVID-19 pandemic and cover its expenditures until year-end 2021.

According to a government statement, the allocation forms part of KYD96.4 million (USD117.5 million) in additional funds for the 2021 budget approved by members of parliament on July 21, 2021. The highest individual amount approved was KYD27.5 million (USD33.5 million), earmarked to extend tourism stipend payments until December 31, 2021, to deal with the ongoing fallout from the pandemic. Of this, KYD10 million (USD12.1 million) was also allocated to the Cayman Islands Airports Authority.

As previously reported, Cayman Airways, the flag carrier of the British Overseas Territory, already received KYD16.3 million (USD19.8 million) in COVID-19 support from the government last year, covering the period from January to December 2020.

According to the government's Strategic Policy Statement for 2022-2024, its planned capital investment for Cayman Airways over that period is another KYD9 million (USD10.9...

Editorial Comment: Adjusted status of Saab 340B fleet as at least one aircraft is currently active again. - 23.07.2021 - 07:58 UTC