Locair

Locair was an American charter airline headquartered in unincorporated Broward County, Florida, close to Fort Lauderdale. Established in 1993, it operated under the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration's FAR Part 135 framework for on-demand air-taxi and charter services. Its business focused on relatively small-scale passenger and cargo operations, particularly routes linking Florida with destinations in the Bahamas and, according to descriptions of its historical activity, Cuba. The carrier's operating model was unusual among Florida charter operators because it held scheduled authority for certain Bahamas services. That authority allowed Locair to publish schedules and accept online bookings for qualifying flights, rather than operating solely as an irregular charter provider. Its public descriptions also emphasized that it would remain within the limits imposed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and the FAA, including a stated ceiling of no more than four flights per week between any two points. Locair became involved in the Essential Air Service market through operations performed on behalf of Air Azul. Under that arrangement, it connected Nashville and Somerset, Kentucky. The relationship ended on March 20 after regulatory concerns arose over the use of the Air Azul name and the way tickets were being sold to the public. The cited issue involved the absence of an appropriate U.S. Department of Transportation Part 380 filing and a signed agreement with Locair. Following a request associated with JetBlue and the DOT, the flights were to be rebranded under the Locair name. The first cancellation attributed to Locair occurred on that date. The airline subsequently pursued links between South Florida and the Bahamas. In late 2009 it began twice-weekly service between Fort Lauderdale and Stella Maris Airport on Long Island, a destination described as lacking direct or nonstop service to the United States because of the route's distance. Services from Fort Lauderdale to Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay also began during 2009. Locair additionally connected Somerset with the Washington, D.C., area through Baltimore/Washington International Airport and Washington Dulles International Airport under its Part 298 air-taxi authority. Those Somerset operations had ended by February 19, 2010. Locair's listed fleet consisted of one Fairchild Metro II and one Fairchild Metro III, aircraft types suited to the small regional passenger and cargo role described for the airline. In 2010 the company was sold to new owners who hoped to expand its Bahamas business and relaunch the operation as Starfish Airlines. The rebranding and expansion effort did not succeed, and Locair ultimately ceased operations permanently. No current operating company, public listing, or surviving active brand is identified in the supplied reference material.

Locair was formed in 1993 as a U.S. air carrier based in the Fort Lauderdale area of Broward County, Florida. It operated as a FAR Part 135 on-demand air-taxi and charter airline rather than as a large scheduled carrier. Its activities covered both passenger and cargo charters, with an emphasis on Florida, the Bahamas, and reported services connected with Cuba. The small-aircraft structure of the business allowed it to serve markets that did not necessarily support conventional airline schedules. A distinctive feature of Locair was its scheduled authority for operations to the Bahamas. Although its principal legal and operational model remained that of a charter carrier, this authority enabled the company to publish schedules and accept online reservations for eligible services. Locair stated that it would comply with the limits set by the FAA and the U.S. Department of Transportation, including a restriction of no more than four flights per week between any two points. This combination of charter status and limited scheduled authority differentiated it from many other Florida operators offering only irregular charter flights. Locair also participated in the Essential Air Service environment. It provided service on behalf of Air Azul between Nashville and Somerset, Kentucky. The arrangement ended on March 20 following regulatory objections concerning the public use of the Air Azul name and the sale of tickets. The cited circumstances included the absence of a proper DOT Part 380 filing and a signed agreement with Locair. In response to a request involving JetBlue and the Department of Transportation, the operation was to be identified and marketed as Locair. The date was also described as the first canceled flight by Locair. The airline then concentrated attention on links from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas. In late 2009 it started twice-weekly service to Stella Maris Airport on Long Island. The route addressed a destination described as having no direct or nonstop United States service because of the distance involved. Locair also began services to Marsh Harbour and Treasure Cay on Abaco during the same year. Its other documented destinations included Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Baltimore/Washington, Washington Dulles, Somerset, Marsh Harbour, Stella Maris, and Treasure Cay. Locair's Somerset network connected the Kentucky community with the Washington area through Baltimore and Washington Dulles under Part 298 air-taxi authority. Those flights were no longer operating by February 19, 2010. The airline's fleet was listed as one Fairchild Metro II and one Fairchild Metro III, indicating a compact regional operation rather than a broad narrow-body or turboprop fleet. In 2010 Locair was sold to new owners. They intended to grow the Bahamas business and rebrand the airline as Starfish Airlines. The new ownership plan did not achieve the proposed expansion, however, and the airline ultimately closed permanently. The available reference material does not identify a surviving successor, a current website, named executives, or a precise final closure date.

• 2010

  Somerset service ends

  [1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  Locair is reported to have stopped flying from Somerset, Kentucky, by February 19.

• 2010

  Ownership changes and Starfish proposal

  [1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  The airline is sold to new owners, who propose expanding the Bahamas operation and changing the brand to Starfish Airlines.

• 2009

  Bahamas services expand

  [1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  The airline begins or expands Fort Lauderdale services to Stella Maris, Marsh Harbour, and Treasure Cay, including twice-weekly service to Stella Maris.

• 1993

  Locair is formed

  [1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  Locair is established as an American Part 135 charter and air-taxi operator based in Florida.

• Permanent closure

  [1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  The proposed rebranding and expansion fail, and Locair eventually ceases operations permanently.

A small Florida-based Part 135 air-taxi and charter operator specializing in passenger and cargo links between South Florida, selected U.S. regional markets, and the Bahamas.

• Passenger aviation · 1993

  Passenger charter services

  Locair's principal passenger offering was on-demand and limited scheduled-authority air service operated under the Part 135 air-taxi framework. The network focused on short regional links from Florida, selected U.S. communities, and the Bahamas. Its small fleet supported routes and charter assignments that were not designed for the scale of a major scheduled airline.

• Cargo aviation · 1993

  Cargo charter services

  The airline also handled cargo charters alongside passenger operations. The supplied reference material characterizes cargo as one of Locair's core activities but does not specify individual contracts, commodities, or a separate branded cargo product.

• Regional air transport · 2009

  Bahamas air services

  Locair used scheduled authority for selected Bahamas operations, allowing it to publish timetables and accept online bookings. Documented destinations included Stella Maris on Long Island, Marsh Harbour, and Treasure Cay. The services were designed to connect smaller island communities with Fort Lauderdale.

• 2010

  Proposed Starfish Airlines rebrandStrategy

  Background

  After a sale to new owners, the airline sought to expand its Bahamas presence and reposition the business.

  Action taken

  The new owners proposed changing the Locair brand to Starfish Airlines.

  Aftermath

  The proposed expansion and rebranding were unsuccessful, and Locair ultimately ceased operations.

  Source

• 2009

  Expand Fort Lauderdale–Bahamas connectivityStrategy

  Background

  Several Bahamas communities had limited or no direct nonstop links with the United States.

  Action taken

  Locair introduced or expanded service from Fort Lauderdale to Stella Maris, Marsh Harbour, and Treasure Cay.

  Aftermath

  The routes became part of Locair's principal documented passenger network before the airline later closed.

  Source

• Operate within limited Part 135 and scheduled-authority constraintsStrategy

  Background

  Locair operated as a Part 135 on-demand carrier while holding scheduled authority for certain Bahamas services.

  Action taken

  The airline used the authority to publish selected schedules and offer online booking, while stating that it would not exceed the applicable operating limits.

  Aftermath

  This model enabled service to selected Bahamas destinations but did not develop into a large scheduled network.

  Source

• 2010

  Locair ends Somerset, Kentucky operations[1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  Locair was no longer operating from Somerset, Kentucky, by February 19, 2010, ending its links from the region to Baltimore and Washington Dulles.

• 2010

  Locair sold and proposed for rebranding as Starfish Airlines[1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  M&A · Leadership change

  New owners acquired Locair with plans to expand its Bahamas activity and relaunch the airline under the Starfish Airlines name.

• 2009

  Locair adds South Florida–Bahamas routes[1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The airline began or expanded services from Fort Lauderdale to Stella Maris, Marsh Harbour, and Treasure Cay, including twice-weekly service to Stella Maris.

• Locair ends Air Azul-associated Essential Air Service operation[1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  Regulation · Other

  Locair stopped the service associated with Air Azul after regulatory concerns involving the use of the Air Azul name and the sale of tickets without the cited Department of Transportation filing and signed operating agreement.

• Locair ultimately ceases operations[1]Locairen.wikipedia.org

  Bankruptcy · Other

  The planned Starfish Airlines expansion and rebranding did not succeed, and Locair subsequently closed permanently.

1. 1Locairen.wikipedia.org