AirGate Aviation (New Smyrna Beach Municipal) has applied to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) for a commuter air carrier authority which would allow the airline to launch scheduled services between Florida and the Bahamas.
The carrier, which currently functions as an on-demand air taxi company and a fixed-base operator (FBO) of the New Smyrna Beach Municipal airport, seeks to launch "in excess of five flights per week" between New Smyrna Beach and Marsh Harbour in the Bahamas using Cessna (twin piston) 414A aircraft. The airline currently operates five such aircraft, including four owned and one leased.
AirGate Aviation has already been operating on-demand charter services on the route and has seen a steadily growing demand coming from American property owners in the Bahamas, among others. The growth of traffic leads the carrier to believe the route can sustain more frequent scheduled services.
The carrier was established in 2002 and is currently privately-owned by its President, Joseph W. Zitzka.
