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FLORIDA COASTAL AIRLINES
One of the rare independent commuter airlines to
fly into the new
millenium, Florida Coastal began flying in 1995 with routes from the
Florida mainland to the Keys and the Bahamas using a fleet of
9-passenger Cessna 402s.
Cessna 402 N78FC is seen flying above the 7 Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. The day-to-day operations of Florida Coastal were the subject of a popular DVD released by World Air Routes. Needless to say, the scenery was gorgeous.
Cessna 402 N78FC is seen flying above the 7 Mile Bridge in the Florida Keys. The day-to-day operations of Florida Coastal were the subject of a popular DVD released by World Air Routes. Needless to say, the scenery was gorgeous.
FCA route map from Winter 2005. The airline ceased operations in 2006 but resumed service shortly thereafter under new ownership, concentrating on routes to the Bahamas and dropping service to the Keys. The Saab 340 was added to the fleet to increase capacity.
In May 2010, FCA President Albert Vitale sent in this information:
FCA is in the process of adding its 2nd and 3rd Saab to the fleet and has also added a Merlin IIB and Metro III. It will be phasing out the Cessna 402s for Caravan 208Bs.
By the end of May 2010 FCA expects to operate the following fleet:
3 Saab 340A
1 Metro III (Sa 227AC)
1 Merlin IIB
2 Cessna 402C
FCA is now the largest carrier between Ft Lauderdale and Cap Haitian, Haiti. It also serves:
Congotown, South Andros, Bahamas
Bimini, Bahamas
North Eleuthera and Governors Harbor, Eleuthera, Bahamas
New Bight, Cat Island, Bahamas
Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, Cuba.
In February 2011, Joey Saet provided this update:
Florida Coastal Airlines (FCA) is no longer in business. Florida Coastal was purchased by Lynx Air in 2008. Lynx Air was forced by the FAA to turn over their Air Carrier Certificate for faulty maintenance practices. After that happened, Lynx Air started operations using the Florida Coastal Certificate they had purchased. In July 2010 Florida Coastal Airlines was purchased by Salsa Airlines of Haiti. This only lasted until August 2010 because their planes (one Saab and one 402) were repossessed by the owner, thus bringing an end to Florida Coastal Airlines/Lynx Air/Salsa.
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Updated April 20, 2011