Fly The Whale (New York Skyports SPB) has registered a business in the US Virgin Islands (USVI) and is planning to start operating charter flights between St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen and St. Thomas Cyril E. King from April 28.
"While we are registered in the USVI to do business, we are not creating a separate corporate entity for this purpose," Fly the Whale President Omer ErSelcuk explained on inquiry from ch-aviation. "I can confirm we are planning this service as noted and will be utilising the Cessna Grand Caravan B & EX models."
According to the Virgin Islands Consortium newspaper, the Virgin Islands Port Authority (VIPA) had been in discussions with Fly the Whale for two years, but plans were delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The carrier will be based in St. Croix and will operate with three aircraft to start with.
According to the company website, multiple daily flights between the USVI destinations are already on sale, pending government approval. Reservations will be refundable if authorisation is not forthcoming by the travel date.
ch-aviation research found a foreign limited liability company called Underhill Holdings, trading as Fly the Whale, registered a charter business on March 4, 2023, with the USVI Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Division of Corporations and Trademarks.
Fly the Whale is the brand of US business/private charter carrier Lima NY Corp, which holds commuter air carrier authorisation from the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
ErSelcuk explained that the USVI requires foreign or US stateside businesses to register to do business in the territory. "Underhill Holdings, LLC is the corporate entity which does business as Fly The Whale. The Part 135 air carrier certificate, with commuter authority is Lima NY Corp., which is owned by Underhill Holdings, LLC."
The company currently operates Textron Aviation seaplanes and fixed-gear planes in the US Northeast (East Hampton, Nantucket, Martha's Vineyard, New York, Shelter Island, and Stowe), Florida, and the Bahamas, including Key West, Naples, West Palm, Marsh Harbor, Eleuthera, and Nassa.
Fly the Whale's seaplane fleet includes Cessna (twin turboprop) Grand Caravan EX Amphibians; Cessna Grand Caravan EX land-based aircraft; as well as Cessna Citation CJ2 N222NF jets.
The US Virgin Islands has reportedly suffered severe flight shortages since August 2022 as pilots left the area to retire or work for larger airlines elsewhere.
According to the ch-aviation capacities and ch-aviation schedules modules, the passenger route between St. Croix and St. Thomas Cyril E. King is currently served by Cape Air (9K, Hyannis) and Air Sunshine (RSI, San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin).
