Orange Air (Orlando Sanford) has ended scheduled operations as of October 5. The Floridian carrier announced earlier this month that with the expiration of a contract with Branson Air Express (Branson), it would be discontinuing scheduled flights between Cincinnati International, Branson, New Orleans International and Cancún. Fellow Branson Air Express operator Elite Airways (MNU, Portland International Jetport) has already stepped in to cover Orange Air's departure on some of the routes.

As such, Orange Air says it will now embark on a fleet renewal programme wherein its ageing fleet of one MD-82 and one MD-83 will be replaced with an undisclosed number of B737-800s. The aim, it says, is to resume scheduled operations in autumn 2016.

“We remain very excited about the future of Orange Air,” Bert Rivero, Orange Air President, said. “As we begin our plan to build an ultra-low-cost airline that will serve forty domestic and fifty international destinations and remain the fun way to fly.”

In the interim, the Floridian operator will continue to offer domestic and international public charters from its Orlando Sanford base.