A small commuter airline is starting twice-daily flights from Melbourne to Fort Lauderdale and Daytona Beach on May 16, with connecting flights to the Florida Keys and the Bahamas. The Florida Coastal Airlines service will be on nine-passenger Twin Cessna 402 commuter planes.
The trips are the first foray to Central Florida’s East Coast for Fort Lauderdale-based Florida Coastal Airlines. The company, formed in 1995 as a charter service, is expanding to Melbourne International Airport because of potential growth opportunities for business and casual fliers, Vice President Ken Roberts said.
“There is no service now” from South Florida to Melbourne and Daytona Beach, he said, adding that he approached officials at the Melbourne/Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce, and there was a lot of interest in the service. “We set up our schedules so people can connect to the major airlines easily.”
If these flights are successful, it could lead to Melbourne having direct flights to Sarasota, Key West, Gainesville, Fort Myers and Tallahassee, Roberts said.
“That is something we have dreamed about, but we have to grow gradually,” he said.
“Any opportunity to make the connections out of Melbourne into another main city is wonderful, and we’re all for it,” said Geraldine Blanchard, vice president of Global Tours & Travel in Melbourne. “To offer a connection from Melbourne to Fort Lauderdale is wonderful because Fort Lauderdale is a major gateway.”
Fares range from $69 to $99 each way to Daytona Beach and Fort Lauderdale.
Southbound flights will offer connecting service to Key West, Marathon, Marsh Harbour, Treasure Cay and the Bahamas. Florida Coastal Airlines also flies to Sarasota.
The company was based out of St. Lucie County but moved its offices and planes after damage from hurricanes last year.
“We have been getting a lot of requests for more intrastate commuter flights,” said Melbourne Airport Authority Interim Executive Director Richard Ennis. “This new service fills a gap for Space and Treasure Coast business travelers.”
“Any flight service that allows a Melbourne business traveler to conveniently get to South Florida and back in the same day is a good option to traveling by car,” said Tom Hausman, spokesman for Harris Corp.
By Brian Monroe
Florida Today
