Cayman Airways (KX, Grand Cayman Island) is analysing its future regional fleet strategy and hopes to replace both its Saab 340B(Plus) and DHC-6-300s with a new mid-sized type, Chief Executive and President Fabian Whorms told the Cayman Compass. Meanwhile, the airline is looking for a third Twin Otter.
"We are going to have to make some sort of a plan to replace the Saab (Sweden) [aircraft]. This is not for tomorrow, but ideally, we would like to replace them with a type that can also fulfil the missions that the Twin Otters currently fulfil... Then we would just have two types [in the fleet], which would make us more efficient," he said.
The ch-aviation fleets module shows that subsidiary Cayman Airways Express currently operates two Saab 340B(Plus), which are 25.1 years old on average, and two DHC-6-300s, which are 44.7 years old on average. Both types are used domestically, connecting Grand Cayman Island, Cayman Brac Island, and Little Cayman. Whorms stressed that currently, Little Cayman airport can only accommodate the Twin Otters and will therefore have to be expanded to allow the airline to exit the smaller type and consolidate its turboprop fleet. Little Cayman airport's runway is 1,006 metres long currently.
Whorms did not hint at any particular type. "For argument's sake," he said the airline could look for turboprops seating up to 50 passengers.
While the long-term plan foresees the renewal of its regional fleet, Whorms said the state-owned airline is also looking for a third Twin Otter to add more domestic frequencies. However, a limiting factor is the availability of suitable aircraft on the second-hand market.
Besides the four regional turboprops, Cayman Airways mainline also operates four B737-8s.
