Watermakers Air (Fort Lauderdale Executive) has filed a request with the US Department of Transportation (DOT) asking to extend the deadline for it to launch scheduled passenger operations. The air taxi specialist expects to be ready to launch scheduled operations to the Bahamas within four months of the current deadline which expires in mid-January 2018.

Watermakers was granted authorisation on January 13, 2017, with a deadline to launch scheduled passenger flights within a year.

"Over the past year Watermakers Air has undergone substantial growth and development. As a result, capital and human resources originally slated for commencement of commuter operations were diverted in support of this growth," the airline argued in the DOT application.

"We estimate that we will have ample time to finish the development of what is required by the FAA to commence scheduled operations within 4 months of the expiration date of the existing one-year period, although we expect not to need all of this time," it added.

In its original application, Watermakers Air indicated that it would run 2x daily scheduled round-trip flights between Fort Lauderdale Executive and Staniel Cay in the Bahamas.

According to the DOT application, the Florida-based carrier operates a fleet of three Cessna (single turboprop) Grand Caravan 208Bs on public charter services to the Bahamas.