Although a new regional startup carrier was supposed to finally commence flights in July, it seems that flying has been postponed until early August as Massachusetts-based Connect Airlines is allegedly struggling to meet the certification requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Trouble with the US DOT
Connect Airlines is a proposed regional carrier originally intended to provide flight services between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and Midwest and Northeast US cities such as Chicago and Philadelphia. The proposed airline plans to house a fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s.
As per its FAA-issued interstate and foreign operating authorizations, Connect Airlines was required to begin flights by July and September this year, respectively. But on June 16th, the proposed regional carrier wrote to the US Department of Transportation (USDOT) to extend its deadline until October 5th to commence flying.
In its response on July 5th, the USDOT only allowed Connect Airlines until August 5th to provide sufficient evidence that it was indeed making adequate progress on finishing FAA requirements. The department’s response letter read:
“It does not appear that Connect Airlines has made satisfactory progress toward obtaining FAA authority. The FAA notified the department that the proposed airline’s proving flights were terminated. Connect Airlines must provide adequate evidence that it still meets the department’s fitness criteria and that the applicant is making satisfactory progress in obtaining the required safety authority from the FAA.”
Get all the latest aviation news right here on Simple Flying!
More problems ensued
But the alleged problems for the proposed regional startup do not just end there, as the USDOT also cited how Connect Airlines’ predominant foreign capital is another significant obstacle to certification. This means that Connect Airlines is additionally required to present sufficient evidence that it has obtained equivalent capital contributions from US parties.
According to the Department of Transportation, the proposed carrier provided little to no information in its written extension request that enables the department to adequately confirm that Connect Airlines is fit enough or is receiving additional capital contributions from US citizens. In other words, the situation for Connect Airlines looks relatively bleak from the department’s perspective, at least for now.
A different perspective
Yet on the contrary, the startup shares a different side of the story with its Director of Public Affairs, Scott Brownrigg, telling FlightGlobal that the certification process has several phases and that proving flights are still happening instead of having been terminated as stated in the USDOT’s response letter.
Citing an alarming error in the department’s letter, Brownrigg highlights that Connect Airlines’ certification process is continuing well, and the startup is working alongside the FAA as part of the normal process. He even hinted that the FAA would be conducting a final manual review soon and that additional proving flights would be completed later this summer.
Given the estimated timeline of these additional proving flights, Connect Airlines felt the need to request an extension. The department has the right to revoke the interstate and foreign air operating authorizations one year after issuance from carriers that have yet to begin flying.
We’d love to see you on Instagram – follow us here!
Bottom line
Overall, this seems like a complicated case of miscommunications and unmet expectations. Hopefully, Connect Airlines can quickly resolve the situation with the USDOT while completing the certification process with the FAA.
But even if such obstacles are cleared, the startup regional carrier still has red tape to remove with Transport Canada before transborder revenue flights can be launched. The question then becomes, when will Connect Airlines finally take to the skies with passengers? Only time will tell, but the tick is clicking and patience is wearing thin.
Source: FlightGlobal