Cayman Airways
Encyclopedia
Cayman Airways is the national flag carrier
of the Cayman Islands
. With its head office in Grand Cayman
, it operates mainly as an international and domestic scheduled passenger carrier, with cargo services available on all routes. Its operations are based at Owen Roberts International Airport
in George Town, Grand Cayman.The airline also offers a limited charter service.
, 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 Britten-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 737-300'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.
The airline struggled throughout the early 1990s, however financial assistance from the Cayman Islands Government, financial re-structuring, a new fleet and the addition of new destinations (Chicago, Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Havana) seems to have helped the airline.
and is housed in the former Sammy's Airport Inn. The previous Cayman Airways offices were damaged by Hurricane Ivan
in 2004. The Cayman Islands government purchased Sammy's Airport Inn for $2.85 million United States dollars
. The fit-out, including the furniture, was completed for $3 million U.S. with the valuation of the property estimated at 6.76 million U.S. as of June 2007. Parking for the head office is located in the adjacent Cayman Islands Airport Authority property with there being more parking per square foot at the current Cayman Airways head office than in most buildings in George Town, Grand Cayman.
Flag carrier
A flag carrier is a transportation company, such as an airline or shipping company, that, being locally registered in a given country, enjoys preferential rights or privileges, accorded by the government, for international operations. It may be a state-run, state-owned or private but...
of the Cayman Islands
Cayman Islands
The Cayman Islands is a British Overseas Territory and overseas territory of the European Union located in the western Caribbean Sea. The territory comprises the three islands of Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac, and Little Cayman, located south of Cuba and northwest of Jamaica...
. With its head office in Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman
Grand Cayman is the largest of the three Cayman Islands and the location of the nation's capital, George Town. In relation to the other two Cayman Islands, it is approximately 75 miles southwest of Little Cayman and 90 miles southwest of Cayman Brac.-Geography:Grand Cayman encompasses 76% of...
, it operates mainly as an international and domestic scheduled passenger carrier, with cargo services available on all routes. Its operations are based at Owen Roberts International Airport
Owen Roberts International Airport
Owen Roberts International Airport is an airport located in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. It is the main international airport for the Cayman Islands as well as the main base for Cayman Airways...
in George Town, Grand Cayman.The airline also offers a limited charter service.
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 LACSALacsa
Lacsa , is the national airline of Costa Rica and is based in San José. It operates international scheduled services to over 35 destinations in Central, North and South America. All international services are now operated by Grupo TACA...
, the Costa Rican flag carrier, and became wholly government owned in December 1977. The airline operated regional services from Owen Roberts International Airport
Owen Roberts International Airport
Owen Roberts International Airport is an airport located in Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. It is the main international airport for the Cayman Islands as well as the main base for Cayman Airways...
in George Town, Grand Cayman
George Town, Cayman Islands
George Town, Grand Cayman, is the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. The city has a population of 35,600 and is the largest city on Grand Cayman....
to Gerrard Smith International Airport
Gerrard Smith International Airport
Gerrard Smith International Airport is an airport located on Cayman Brac, Cayman Islands. It is one of the hubs for Cayman Airways with flights to Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman, and Edward Bodden Airfield on Little Cayman. It is the only airport on Cayman Brac.-Airlines and...
on Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac
Cayman Brac is an island that is part of the Cayman Islands. It lies in the Caribbean Sea about 90 miles northeast of Grand Cayman and 5 miles east of Little Cayman. It is about 12 miles long, with an average width of 1 mile...
. Early on, the airline's aircraft was a single DC-3
Douglas DC-3
The Douglas DC-3 is an American fixed-wing propeller-driven aircraft whose speed and range revolutionized air transport in the 1930s and 1940s. Its lasting impact on the airline industry and World War II makes it one of the most significant transport aircraft ever made...
. 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
Douglas DC-6
The Douglas DC-6 is a piston-powered airliner and transport aircraft built by the Douglas Aircraft Company from 1946 to 1958. Originally intended as a military transport near the end of World War II, it was reworked after the war to compete with the Lockheed Constellation in the long-range...
. 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 Britten-Norman Trislander
Britten-Norman Trislander
*LIAT*Montserrat Air Services*Air Queensland*Eagle Airways*Aero Services*Cayman Airways*TAVINA*Vision Air*Bali Int. Air Service*Trans Jamaican Airlines*Aero Cozumel*Great Barrier Airlines*Aero Taxi Intl*Aviones de Panama...
were purchased. The airline replaced their two BAC 1-11's with Boeing 727
Boeing 727
The Boeing 727 is a mid-size, narrow-body, three-engine, T-tailed commercial jet airliner, manufactured by Boeing. The Boeing 727 first flew in 1963, and for over a decade more were built per year than any other jet airliner. When production ended in 1984 a total of 1,832 aircraft had been produced...
-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 737-300'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.
The airline struggled throughout the early 1990s, however financial assistance from the Cayman Islands Government, financial re-structuring, a new fleet and the addition of new destinations (Chicago, Boston, Fort Lauderdale and Havana) seems to have helped the airline.
Logo
The company's mascot is an embellishment of the original Sir Turtle (pictured above the logo) designed by Suzy Soto. As first designed, Sir Turtle did not have the red flying scarf. That original design was used on baggage stickers by Cayman Islands Customs and also became the logo of the Department of Tourism which was then headed by Eric Bergstrom. Mrs. Soto was married to Eric Bergstrom, with whom she built the Tortuga Club on the East End of Grand Cayman. The red flying scarf was later added to Sir Turtle in 1978 by Capt. Wilbur Thompson, the Chief Pilot of Cayman Airways at the time, and that modified Sir Turtle became the airline's new logo.Fleet
| Aircraft | In Fleet | Orders | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boeing 737-300 Boeing 737 The Boeing 737 is a short- to medium-range, twin-engine narrow-body jet airliner. Originally developed as a shorter, lower-cost twin-engine airliner derived from Boeing's 707 and 727, the 737 has developed into a family of nine passenger models with a capacity of 85 to 215 passengers... |
4 | 0 | International Medium Haul USA, Jamaica, Cuba, Honduras, and England |
| DHC-6 Twin Otter Series 300 De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter The DHC-6 Twin Otter is a Canadian 19-passenger STOL utility aircraft developed by de Havilland Canada and currently produced by Viking Air. The aircraft's fixed tricycle undercarriage, STOL abilities and high rate of climb have made it a successful cargo, regional passenger airliner and MEDEVAC... |
2 | 0 | Domestic Short Haul Cayman Islands |
| Total | 6 | 0 |
Head office
Cayman Airways corporate office is located in GeorgetownGeorge Town, Cayman Islands
George Town, Grand Cayman, is the capital of the Cayman Islands, in the British West Indies. The city has a population of 35,600 and is the largest city on Grand Cayman....
and is housed in the former Sammy's Airport Inn. The previous Cayman Airways offices were damaged by Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan
Hurricane Ivan was a large, long-lived, Cape Verde-type hurricane that caused widespread damage in the Caribbean and United States. The cyclone was the ninth named storm, the sixth hurricane and the fourth major hurricane of the active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season...
in 2004. The Cayman Islands government purchased Sammy's Airport Inn for $2.85 million United States dollars
United States dollar
The United States dollar , also referred to as the American dollar, is the official currency of the United States of America. It is divided into 100 smaller units called cents or pennies....
. The fit-out, including the furniture, was completed for $3 million U.S. with the valuation of the property estimated at 6.76 million U.S. as of June 2007. Parking for the head office is located in the adjacent Cayman Islands Airport Authority property with there being more parking per square foot at the current Cayman Airways head office than in most buildings in George Town, Grand Cayman.