August 29, 2011
Biminites will see the return of seaplane service from South Florida, as a new charter operator reports the upcoming U.S. Labor Day weekend is already fully booked up.
The 30-minute charter will be operated by South Beach Seaplanes and offer service out of Watson Island, Miami Beach, directly to the Bimini Seaplane Station in North Bimini, just minutes away from the Bimini Bay Resort & Marina. It is one of the features the seaplane's founder, Christian Eiroa, said would make the route attractive to many South Floridians.
"South Beach Seaplanes will offer a very high level of personalized service and comfort, while giving busy South Floridians and vacationers the option of flying when their schedules permit on one of the safest aircrafts available for seaplane travel," Eiroa said.
In an interview with Guardian Business, Eiroa estimated South Miami travellers to Bimini via airplane had to contend with an hour drive plus a two-hour airport wait just to get to Bimini. Once there, he said most of those travellers were headed to the Bimini Bay resort, adding a taxi and boat ferry ride to their travel time. According to Eiroa, South Beach Seaplanes will eliminate much of that time and hassle, which is part of its high-end service pitch.
"When we host people in Miami, we want to give them high-end service," Eiroa said. "I fly a lot and by the time passengers make it to the airplane, we are so frustrated. So we are trying to eliminate that traumatic experience as soon as they step onto the airplane."Bimini Bay's general manager, Bill Lee, welcomed the additional airlift and service levels the charter is promising.
"We are excited seaplanes have returned to Bimini Bay Resort & Marina," said Lee.
"The personalized service guests will receive on South Beach Seaplanes will only enhance their trip to Bimini, with that high-class service continuing once they arrive at the resort."The charter will operate a nine-seater Cessna Caravan N578DD amphibious craft for an introductory price of $999 each way. That translates to less than $230 round trip at full capacity. The service will also provide another option for Biminites wishing to travel to Miami. Passengers will be able to take the "empty-leg" - the unchartered portion of the Miami-Bimini route, for $150.
Due to restrictions in the charter license, those seats cannot be scheduled and sold like a typical airline. Eiroa said the company is actively working on setting up a calendar on its website, however, so it is easy to access what the availability for those legs is.Many will remember the storied Bimini-Miami seaplane service operated by Chalk's International Airways. Started in February 1919, it was reputed to have been a rum-runner during prohibition times. By the 1990s it serviced Paradise Island - making marine take-offs and landings in Nassau Harbour a common site.
Chalks was a contender for the title of oldest continuing operating airline in the world when, just a few minutes after takeoff on December 19, 2005, Flight 101 crashed into Government Cut channel off Miami Beach. Twenty souls, including two crew members, 11 Bahamian passengers and seven American passengers, never made it to Bimini as a result of that tragedy.Chalks was flying a Grumman G-73T Turbine Mallard on that ill-fated flight, which investigators concluded crashed as a result of fatigue failure in the right wing. The South Beach Seaplanes charter will be flying the Cessna Caravan N578DD, which Eiroa says is now one of the most common seaplanes in use, and among the safest forms of air travel available.
It is one of the latest models of the Caravan, with Eiroa saying it is in common use by companies like DHL and Fedex.
Travellers may feel safer flying the new charter because of a trick Eiroa said he learned from his wife - fly low. The seaplane will only fly at about 1,000 feet altitude, he said.
No comments:
Post a Comment