Silver Airways (3M, Fort Lauderdale International) has abandoned plans to establish a base in Branson, Missouri this summer following delays in the type certification of the ATR42-600 by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
As the type's US launch operator, Silver Airways had intended to use its incoming fleet of ATR42-600s to run regular flights from Branson to each of Chicago O'Hare, Houston Intercontinental, and New Orleans International from June 28 onwards. That date was subsequently postponed to August 30 before being abandoned out right earlier this week.
Branson Airport said in a statement that the type certification process would not be completed any time before the start of autumn.
“We were disappointed to learn of the news of the ATR certification delay,” Jeff Bourk, Branson Airport Executive Director, said in a statement. “As we work with Silver Airways during this period of adjustment, normal operations continue with Frontier Airlines (F9, Denver International) and ViaAir (Orlando International) at the Branson Airport.”
According to the ch-aviation schedules module, Silver Airways had also planned to deploy the ATR - Avions de Transport Régional turboprops into service on multiple daily flights between Huntsville International and Orlando International beginning September 13.
Silver Airways also intends to utilize ATR-600 series aircraft on its Seaborne Airlines unit's services out of San Juan Luis Muñoz Marin, Puerto Rico and St. Croix SPB and St. Croix Henry E. Rohlsen in the US Virgin Islands to destinations throughout the Caribbean. The new ATRs will replace twenty-seven 34-seater Saab 340B aircraft operated by Silver and Seaborne.
