WALKER'S CAY AIRLINES / WALKER'S INTERNATIONAL
Fort Lauderdale based Walker's Cay Airlines was founded as a private charter company by Bob Aplanalp in the mid 1970s to transport passengers to his Walker's Cay Hotel and resort in the Bahamas. Scheduled commuter flights began on February 1, 1980 with service between West Palm Beach and Walker's Cay and was soon extended to Ft. Lauderdale. The fleet in early 1981 consisted of 3 aircraft: Twin Otter N666PV, Grumman Mallard N2954 and Beechcraft Queen Air N555PV.
Grumman G-73 Mallard N2954 (msn J-14) was christened the "Walker's Cay Clipper".
Walker's Cay De Havilland Twin Otter N666PV (msn 65) is pictured at the airline's Ft. Lauderdale base circa 1981. Built in 1967, this aircraft served the company from 1978 to 1995.
Walker's Cay timetable circa summer 1980 showing flights between Fort Lauderdale, Walker's Cay and West Palm Beach. Courtesy of Björn Larsson.
The back side of the timetable announces new service to West Palm Beach beginning June 27, 1980. Courtesy of Björn Larsson.
Walker's Cay Airlines route map based on the September 1, 1981 Official Airline Guide showing the addition of Bimini. Map generated by the Great Circle Mapper - copyright © Karl L. Swartz.
The airline's name was changed to Walker's International in 1982. This 1988 advertisement promoted a short-lived service between Walker's Cay and Ft. Pierce, Florida.
Scheduled commuter flights were discontinued in 1990 but charter operations continued well into the early 2000s. Twin Otter N666PV is picture at Fort Lauderdale on April 8, 1993. Photo copyright Torsten Maiwald.
Peter Hodgkins photographed N666PV at Walker's Cay on April 25, 1993. Peter wrote, "I had flown into Walker's Cay in a Cessna 172 from Kissimmee via Freeport. Had a nice lunch at the hotel and a walk around the island and harbor and then back home. I was a student pilot at the time. What an adventure. An amazing day, and some good memories."
A wide view of the Walker's Cay ramp on April 25, 1993 courtesy of Peter Hodgkins.
An aerial view of the Walker's Cay landing strip on April 25, 1993, also taken by Peter Hodgkins. Thanks Peter!
Walker's International received a rash of negative publicity in July 2003 when a video surfaced of a captain apparently sleeping during a flight from Ft. Lauderdale to Walker's Cay. The video, taken by a passenger on the flight, eventually appeared on CNN and led to the captain's resignation, although he denied falling asleep.
I have found no information about the airline after 2003 and presume that the carrier shut down shortly after the sleeping incident.
I have found no information about the airline after 2003 and presume that the carrier shut down shortly after the sleeping incident.
