Sky King (Lakeland) has filed an application with the US Department of Transportation for authority to resume certificated air carrier operations following its acquisition by a new owner in May.
DoT documents seen by ch-aviation reveal the carrier, which ceased operations in January after operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection since 2012, was acquired by AerLine Holdings LLC.
With Sky King's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and DoT certifications in hand, AerLine intends to relaunch the carrier with USD14million in capital using a leased fleet of two B737-300s - msn 23440, 23441 - and four B737-400s - msn 27149, 25417, 25313, and 25314. An additional four aircraft are to be added thereafter.
AerLine Holdings is owned by Nicolas Finnazzo and Bob Nichols, CEO and COO of AerSale. The two had also previously set-up AeroTurbine, an aircraft engine lessor and MRO provider they sold to lessor AerCap in 2006. AerLine Holdings and AerSale are not related to AeroTurbine as previously reported by ch-aviation.
