Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

Skylan Airways, a new domestic carrier owned by Jamaican Dwayne Brown, says it plans to fly a 19-seater British Aerospace Jetstream 32 between Kingston and Montego Bay, a market of some 50,000 that is currently unserved.

Skylan, which had a test run Wednesday, will operate from the General Aviation Centre at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, and the new domestic terminal at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay.

The carrier is one of two local companies that have been waiting in the wings to offer intra-island services, said Elizabeth Scotton, chief commercial officer of MBJ Airports Limited, the company that operates the Sangster Airport under concession.

International Airline ceased flying almost a year ago but is still in the business, Scotton said.

Avoiding lengthy pre-departure requirements

"By using our domestic air services, you avoid the two-hour pre-departure requirement of international airlines and the sometimes lengthy delays of customs and immigration at the international terminals," says Mark Foga, Skylan's manager of operations.

Foga, the airline's chief technical officer, Victor Spence, chief pilot, Peter West, and other team members, unveiled the fine leather interior aircraft, which takes 30 minutes to get from Kingston to Montego Bay, to the media, in what it tagged as "a soft launch" on Wednesday morning.

But come Monday, August 10, at the start of the work week, the airline will launch off with round-trip charters three times per week - Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Spence indicated that within six weeks, another 19-seater aircraft is to be added to the fleet, allowing the company to set a scheduled service of four flights per day, six days per week.

It is estimated that the company could have spent between US$250,000 and US$500,000 for the purchase of one British Aerospace Jetstream 32.

The Skylan chief technical officer said he did not have the precise budget, but estimates that the carrier's start-up costs may be close to US$4.5 million.

The company has hired 25 Jamaicans, including five pilots, who are all graduates of Wings Jamaica and who were trained to fly the British Aerospace Jetstream by Flight Safety St Louis in the United States.

For the convenience of its business travellers, Skylan Airways says its first daily flight will depart Kingston for Montego Bay at 7:30 a.m., arriving at 8:00 a.m., while the earliest departure out of MoBay is at 8:30 a.m. at a price tag of US$89 one way.

The last flight out of Kingston departs at 4:00 p.m., returning from Montego Bay at 5:00 p.m., Foga said.

Proper domestic terminal

MBJ Airports Limited said it had been in talks with Skylan for over a year and as a result, made sure there was a proper new domestic terminal to receive the flights.

"We have a dedicated X-ray and check point, plus seating area, and Versair will be operating a small food and beverage stand here," said MBJ's Scotton.

"Our focus is on business travel, which is a different demographic from the majority of leisure travellers who use the rest of the airport."

Scotton promised that within two months, passengers using the new terminal would have access to free wireless service in the building.

Conceptualised in 2007, Skylan Airways said its intention was to meet the need within the market for a reliable service by a scheduled carrier.

"The objective is to position the airline in the market as simply the best way to travel between our major cities," said Foga.

The company claims that its frequent-flyer programme is the most innovative in Jamaica, offering SkylanMiles members points not only when passengers fly on Skylan, but also when goods and services, such as groceries, gasolene, clothing and calling cards are purchased.

Points are redeemed for free Skylan tickets, hotel stays, car rentals, golf, gift certificates and more.

janet.silvera@gleanerjm.com