Aztec Airways (AJ, Fort Lauderdale International) is looking to acquire an unspecified number of Y12s for both passenger and cargo operations the airline's founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Stuart Hanley has announced.

In an interview with the Sun Sentinel, Hanley said he was looking to bring in Y12Es for use on US-Bahamas passenger flights while Y12Fs will be used for cargo operations. However, the speed at which the Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Corporation-manufactured turboprops will be delivered will depend on Aztec finalizing leasing or financing terms with the Chinese firm, he said. At present, the two aircraft cost USD6 million and USD8 million respectively at list prices.

The Y12 Family is the only line of Chinese-manufactured commercial passenger aircraft to have received type certification from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) with the Y-12 (IV) certified in 1995, the Y-12E in 2006, and the Y-12F in 2016. However, despite the milestone achievement, no US airlines have yet committed to ordering the aircraft.

However, should Hanley's bid for financing prove successful, Aztec Airways could become the Y12F's US launch customer and, likely, launch operator.

Based out of Fort Lauderdale Executive, Aztec Airways operates two Piper (twin piston) PA-31 Chieftains, one Cessna (single turboprop) 208B Caravan Super Cargomaster, and two Beech (twin turboprop) Model 18 freighters on regular flights between Florida and the Bahamas.