Cayman Airways

Infobox_Airline
airline=Cayman Airways
logo=cayman_airways_logo.gif
logo_size=258
IATA=KX
ICAO=CAY
callsign=CAYMAN
parent=Cayman Airways Holdings Ltd. (Government of the Cayman Islands)
founded=1968 (as Cayman Brac Airways)cite book|last=Norwood|first=Tom|coauthors=Wegg, John|title=North American Airlines Handbook|publisher=Airways International|location=Sandpoint, ID|date=2002|edition=3rd|isbn=0-9653993-8-9|url=http://www.airwaysnews.com]
commenced=July 1968
alliance=United Airlines
headquarters=George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
key_people=Patrick Strasburger(Chief Executive)
hubs=Owen Roberts International Airport
Gerrard Smith International Airport
Edward Bodden Airfield
frequent_flyer=Sir Turtle Rewards
lounge=Sir Turtle Lounge
fleet_size=7
destinations=13
website= http://www.caymanairways.com

Cayman Airways is the national flag carrier of the Cayman Islands. Based in Grand Cayman, it operates mainly as an international and domestic scheduled passenger carrier, with cargo services available on all routes and a limited charter service offered. Its operations are based at Owen Roberts International Airport, Grand CaymanFlight International 3 April 2007] . The company's mascot is Sir Turtle, pictured above the logo.

History

The airline was established and started operations on August 7, 1968. It was formed following the Cayman Government's purchase of 51% of Cayman Brac Airways, from LACSA, the Costa Rican flag carrier, and became wholly government owned in December 1977. The airline operated regional services from Owen Roberts International Airport in George Town, Grand Cayman to Gerrard Smith International Airport on Cayman Brac. Early on, the airline's aircraft was a single DC-3. A few months after it was formed, Cayman Airways flew its first international route to Kingston, Jamaica, on a leased BAC 1-11. International service to Miami began in 1972 using a single leased Douglas DC-6. The airline acquired its first jet aircraft; the BAC 1-11 in 1978, and began services to Houston. In 1979, a second BAC 1-11, A Hawker Siddleley Avro 748, and a Britton Norman Trislander were purchased. The airline replaced their two BAC 1-11's with Boeing 727-200 aircraft in 1982, strengthening the airline's regional and international capability, and also allowed for the introduction of first class service. These jets were eventually replaced with Boeing 737-200's. At one time or another during the 1980s, Cayman Airways offered scheduled or charter service to Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Minneapolis, Newark, New York, Philadelphia, & St. Louis.

"Flying through turbulence to Clear skies". (July/August 2008). Cayman Airways Horizons, pg. 26.

"Ever changing routes in an ever Changing world". (July/August 2008). Cayman Airways Horizons, pg. 30.

The airline struggled throughout the early 1990s, however financial assistance from the government, financial re-structuring a new fleet and new destinations such as Chicago, Boston, Fort Lauderdale and notably Havana (in 2003) have helped the airline.Fact|date=May 2007

Destinations

As of October 2008, Cayman Airways operates scheduled flights to the following destinations: [http://www.caymanairways.com/travel_information/interactive_route_map.php Cayman Airways official website "Interactive route map"] ]

* Cayman Islands
** Cayman Brac (Gerrard Smith International Airport)
** Grand Cayman (Owen Roberts International Airport)
** Little Cayman (Edward Bodden Airfield)
* Cuba
** Havana (José Martí International Airport)
* Jamaica
** Kingston (Norman Manley International Airport)
** Montego Bay (Sangster International Airport)
* United States
** Chicago, Illinois (O'Hare International Airport) "Seasonal"
** Miami, Florida (Miami International Airport)
** New York, New York (John F. Kennedy International Airport)
** Orlando, Florida (Orlando International Airport) "Seasonal"
** Tampa, Florida (Tampa International Airport)
** Washington DC (Washington Dulles International Airport) "Seasonal" [service begins December 13, 2008]

Fleet

External links

* [http://www.caymanairways.com Cayman Airways]
* [http://www.flycay.com Flycay]

References