Tropic Ocean Airways (TI, Fort Lauderdale International) has signalled its intention to expand into the US government's Essential Air Services (EAS) programme following the submission of a proposal to serve the Arizonan town of Show Low.
In its proposal, the Florida-based Part 135 scheduled passenger carrier put forward two options: the first entails 18 weekly return flights between Show Low and Phoenix Sky Harbor for an annual subsidy of USD1,429,050 while the second entails a total of 24 weekly return flights from Show Low to Phoenix Sky Harbor (12x weekly), six flights to Tucson International, and six to Albuquerque International. The annual subsidy requested here is USD1,963,750.
Other contenders for the contract include Great Lakes Airlines, Boutique Air, and Precision Aeromedical Transport LLC dba Sunrise Air Ambulance (Show Low).
Tropic Ocean Airways currently operates an extensive fleet of Cessna Aircraft Company turboprops including Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208B EX wheeled and amphibian variants, Cessna 208 amphibians, as well as Cessna (single piston) 206 amphibians. It specializes in commuter flights between Florida and the Bahamas as well as from New York to the Hamptons, Fire Island, and other resort destinations.
