POMPANO AIRWAYS
Founded in 1972 as a charter company and named after a Florida game fish, Pompano Airways began scheduled commuter service in Florida and the Bahamas in July 1981. Like many airlines before it, Pompano tried to create a niche for itself by serving the underutilized airports of St. Petersburg and Kissimmee as alternates to Tampa and Orlando respectively. These cities were served by nonstop flights from Pompano's Ft. Lauderdale base using twin Cessnas. A single round trip between Ft. Lauderdale and Punta Gorda was also flown, oddly enough, three times a week. Within a year, those cities were dropped and the airline focused on service from Ft. Lauderdale and Miami to the Bahamas destinations of Chub Cay, Marsh Harbour, North Eleuthera, Treasure Cay and West End.
Beginning in late 1983 and early 1984, Pompano leased several 29-seat Nord 262 turboprops from National Commuter Airlines, which allowed the airline to drastically increase capacity on the Bahamas routes. Several of the Nords were also used for Air Florida Commuter contract services. Like many other commuter airlines affiliated with Air Florida, Pompano struggled to survive after the demise of the parent company. The airline filed for Chapter 11 protection in January 1985 but continued flying on a limited basis through June 1985.
Pompano's Piper Aztec N62743 in December 1981.
Pompano route map based on their July 10, 1981 timetable. Generated using Great Circle Mapper.
Pompano Airways Cessna 404 Titan N37167 in December 1983.
