SATSAir Update

October 27, 2009

As many of you have now heard, one of the service providers we have been working with, SATSair of Greenville, SC, has  suspended  operations as of Saturday, October 24. We had been working with them that week, sending trip requests, and so were very surprised and disappointed when they made their announcement.
 
They have been coordinating with ImagineAir, Skyway, and OpenAir, three other Cirrus operating on-demand providers, to cover their passengers.  To our knowledge, these carriers, and our other provider partners, are doing quite well.  ImagineAir, for example, is announcing record traffic and revenues for their operation.  SATSair also has had strong loads, and revenues, but apparently have experienced other business related issues that have required this extreme action.  NCFlyPorts will continue to interface directly with Jetpool, Jet Logistics, Flight Group Corporation, AirCare, LinearAir, OBX Charters and other flight service providers.
 
We believe that the on-demand market and business model will be successful, and will continue to promote the availability of service at your local airports.  As we move through the second year of the program, we are seeing more activity and action successfully utilizing this service and sharing the promise of the service with other potential users.  We look forward to this momentum building through the third year of the program and will strive diligently to see that happen.
 
We continue to maintain and foster new relationships with multiple carriers to help ensure that service within North Carolina remains constant. These other carriers are working hard to ensure that they continue to grow and develop successful business models that actually benefit by the experiences of others in the industry.  Knowledge, ability and success will increase as this promising industry grows, and we will do what we can to help existing and potential travelers explore various ways this service can help them, their business and their community.
 
Click here to read the full story from Aviation Week that speaks to the SATSair announcement regarding the pause in their service:

We believe that they are actively trying to find a means to restart their service, and we’ll do all we can to make such an activity a success here in North Carolina.  (If you have questions, you can refer them to your websites, as Tonya has recently posted this information.  The Air Taxi Association – ATXA.com also continues to post updated information regarding all facets of air taxi issues and reports.)
 
We will address this further in our upcoming meeting on November 18, and look forward to seeing all of you there.

In the mean time, if you have questions or if anyone in your communities have questions, please don’t hesitate to call Tonya Hampton or me.  Dave Thomas and Ted Alman are also available with the State Aviation Division.

-/Your NCFlyPorts Team