MEXICO BERMUDA & THE CARIBBEAN

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MEXICO

Fuerza Aérea Mexicana.

The Fuerza Aérea Mexicana operated a VIP configured Series 201AC on behalf of the Mexican Government from October 1976 until September 1977.

Name used by this aircraft:-

Quetzalcóatl

SARO Airlines (Servicios Aéreos Rutas Oriente) SA de CV. - (UF/SRO)

Monterrey

This company leased a Series 201AC from Guinness Peat Aviation which entered service on 18th March 1991 on schedules linking the company’s home base of Monterrey with Acapulco, Cancun, Leon-Guanajua, Mazatlan and Torreon. It also operated charter flights and support flights for other types in the airline’s fleet. It had been withdrawn by July 1993 and put in storage.

BAHAMAS

Bahamas Airways, Ltd. - (BH)

Nassau

This company leased two Series 432FDs from November and December 1968 pending delivery of two Series 517FEs which were delivered in July 1969. The earlier aircraft were configured in a 79 seat single class layout while the later aircraft were operated in a 99 seat single class layout. A Series 301AG was later purchased with delivery in April 1970 pending delivery of a third ordered Series 517FE. This last aircraft was fitted with long range tanks for a proposed New York route but although painted and ready for delivery, it never left Hurn before the company ceased operations on 9th October 1970. The aircraft were flown from Nassau and Freeport to Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach.

Bahamasair Holdings, Ltd - Bahamasair. - (BH & UP/BHS)

Nassau

This company was established as the national airline of the Bahamas on 1st July 1973 from the merger of Flamingo Airlines Ltd and Out Island Airways Ltd. Inherited were two Series 401AKs from Out Island Airways, one of which was disposed of in December of the same year when another aircraft of the same type was taken on strength. One of these aircraft was disposed of in October 1976, leaving two aircraft to soldier on until the type was finally withdrawn in August 1981. The aircraft were used on routes from Nassau to Freeport and from these two points to Miami while Atlanta was served from Nassau.

Flamingo Airlines, Ltd. - (PL)

Nassau

This company leased a Series 203AE from Braniff in July 1971 and did so until late April 1972. The aircraft operated routes from Nassau to Freeport and Port au Prince.

Out Island Airways, Ltd. - (OE)

Nassau

Out Island Airways purchased two Series 401AKs from American Airlines to operate on the carriers inter-island routes in March and June 1973. The airline merged into Bahamasair on 1st July 1973 although the aircraft still carried OIA titles for some time after the merger.

CAYMAN ISLANDS

Cayman Airways, Ltd. - (KX/CAY)

Georgetown

Cayman Airways, which was 49% owned by LACSA of Costa Rica at the time, commenced service with the type in 1970 flying three times weekly between Grand Cayman and Kingston, Jamaica using LACSA’s two Series 409AYs. These aircraft were later employed on the company’s Miami services as well. With the arrival of LACSA’s Series 500s, in 1973 one these aircraft was painted in full Cayman Airways colours and was operated until 1977. Other aircraft from the LACSA fleet were also used, sometimes with Cayman Airways titles applied. With the airline becoming 100% government owned in December 1977, the One-Eleven was returned to LACSA. In June 1978 the company returned to One-Eleven operations after purchasing a Series 523FJ which was followed by a Series 531FS in November 1979. With two One-Elevens in the fleet, the Miami service was increased to sixteen services per week, the Kingston service was set at twice weekly and a new route was added from Grand Cayman to Houston five times per week. These two aircraft were finally replaced by two Boeing 727-227s in December 1982.

* Occasional lease from LACSA.

Names used on the aircraft:-

TI-LRJ - Barracuda

VR-CAB - Cayman Progress

VR-CAL - Cayman Victory

Several corporate One-Elevens were additionally registered in the Cayman Islands though generally not based there. See the Corporate Operators page.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Compañía Dominicana de Aviación, C por A. - (DO/DOA)

Santo Domingo

A Series 408EF was painted up by BAC for lease to this carrier in full company colours in July 1968.  However, the deal was not completed and the aircraft not delivered.

GRENADA

Grenada Airways, Ltd. - (GG)

St George's

This company commenced a twice weekly schedule between Miami and Grenada on 11th June 1986 with a Series 401AK. The aircraft was operated on the company’s behalf by Challenge International Airlines and did so until early 1987.

ANTIGUA & BARBUDA

Leeward Island Air Transport Services, Ltd. - (LI/LIA)

Antigua

While under the control of Court Line Ltd, this carrier initially leased a Series 518FG from the parent company from November 1971 until July 1972. This entered service on 1st December 1971 with services flown once daily from Antigua to St Lucia (both the smaller Vigie and the international Hewanorra airports), St Maarten, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Barbados and St Croix (US Virgin Islands) and twice daily to Port of Spain (Trinidad) one of which continued to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe).  The initial aircraft was replaced by the first of three Series 517FE in late June 1972, with the second coming in early December 1972 and the third in early December 1973. With the expanded fleet the following additional points were gradually added to the network – Fort-de-France (Martinique), Grenada, Kingston (Jamaica) and Tobago. The aircraft were returned to Court Line in early and late March and late April 1974 with the last service being flown with the type on 29th April.

Names used by the aircraft:-

VP-LAK - Halcyon Days

VP-LAN - Halcyon Beach

VP-LAP - Halcyon Bay

VP-LAR - Halcyon Cove

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