Seaborne aircraft gets FAA certification

A Saab 340 series
The Saab 340 series

The US-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has certified an aircraft to be used by Seaborne Airlines to serve its Dominica/San Juan route set to begin on April 1.

Seaborne has described the recent certification of its new Saab 340B as a “new milestone.”

“After eight months of incredible work by the Seaborne operations team, we are happy and proud to introduce the 34 passenger Saab 340B aircraft to the Caribbean,” said David Ziemer, Chief Operating Officer of Seaborne Airlines. “I want to personally thank the Seaborne team, especially our Director of Operations, Shawn Lewis, Saab Fleet Manager Dan Auslander and Maintenance and Inspection Directors, Mark Dyson and John Harrison for their incredible efforts over the past several months. This truly marks a major milestone in Seaborne Airlines history.”

Recently the St. Croix-based airline announced that it will be offering daily flights between Melville Hall Airport and Luis Muñoz Marín Airport in San Juan. This, after American Eagle said it would be suspending flights from San Juan in 2013 to a number of Caribbean destinations as it attempts to shave US$75-million per year in labor costs.

The new aircraft will be used in six routes in the Caribbean announced by Seaborne, including the one between Dominica and Puerto Rico.

According to Seaborne the 34-seat Saab 340B “has the comfort of most modern jetliners and the increased speed will provide the fastest overall journey on all routes Seaborne flies. And the Saab’s fuel-efficient aircraft will help keep Seaborne competitive and eco-friendly.”

The aircraft operates with two pilots and a flight attendant providing in-flight service, and has a lavatory.

“With the addition of the Saab 340B, Seaborne is poised for even greater growth throughout the Caribbean and will add needed lift for local inter-island travel as well as easier ways for tourists to connect to the Caribbean worldwide,” the company said.

Seaborne has also made  trial flights to Dominica.

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34 Comments

  1. Jazzy
    March 28, 2013

    Nice Start but I went online today and I still cannot get a same day connection from JFK. The flight leaving San Juan is too early for a reliable connection with AA from JFK

  2. Yehhhhh
    March 27, 2013

    Great news for us but we need a later flight about 2 so we can connect good start give LIAT COMPETITION THEY TO DAM DIRTY

  3. bless
    March 27, 2013

    thats very good news for the people of dominica,sure hope they provide us with good prices.heyyyyy seabond all the way

  4. CB-VI
    March 27, 2013

    Great News!! I have not done the Saab 340 yeat but i’ve done something Smaller with BVI AIRWAYS and its great. I must say I will sure miss American Eagle, Especially Flights into Dominica, the thrill of the “challenge” always made my trip exciting.

    As far as Dominica, I am so happy that Seaborne decided to help us out. Also I greatly appreciate liat’s effort. I personally dont fly Liat but its glad to know that the option is available.

    Great Job Guys…and Thanks Alot. It feels good to know that my country is not being left out.

  5. Nudibranch
    March 27, 2013

    flight times haven’t changed for the better so why the fanfare? people still have to spend the night.

  6. Anonymous
    March 27, 2013

    Fantastic! Really keeping fingers crossed this airline works out! Again props to all who made sure this airline happened!

  7. yay
    March 27, 2013

    Flight booked! I wish that Seaborne left SJU later than 11am though because now we have to spend a night in PR. Maybe next year man, hopefully!

    • always travelling td
      March 27, 2013

      try to get to puerto rico later at night

      • Jazzy
        March 28, 2013

        And do what??? Spen hours in the damn lobby

      • say sa meme
        March 29, 2013

        And then what, you still have to spend the night and wait for the 1145AM flight, so is still an overnight.

  8. Winnie
    March 27, 2013

    A new airline introducing new flights into the most difficult landing airstrip. Great nes but we still have to pray.

  9. KoKo Naughts
    March 26, 2013

    Bon diay why they not taking LIAT own from them nah?? LIAT allu have my luggage for me deypi 2008!

  10. Rastar-Marn
    March 26, 2013

    Watch dem LIAT officials come and try to make a grab at Seaborne airline like they did Caribbean Star yeh,,,

    Juss watch what Marn say Marn giving dem 3-5 years before dey start causing havoc,,,

    • budman
      March 26, 2013

      when you say dem Liat officials are you referring to our very own government which is a shareholder of Liat and who will try to protect its investment?

      • Jay
        March 28, 2013

        Budman, correction! We don’t know whether the Dominica government is a shareholder in Liat or not. First Skerrit said we would put in $8 million, then $3 million. Whatever the contribution was, we were never told what we got in return.

  11. Anonymous
    March 26, 2013

    Good News,I hope the fair will be cheaper then Eagle Airline,That would be a good news.

    • dominican abroad
      March 26, 2013

      i check the flight from sanjuan to dominica and it say one way is 140.00 us dollars.

    • President
      March 26, 2013

      have u seen the introductory special? $116 one way DOM/SJU?
      This is Awesome…
      Let’s see what Liat comes up with. They will run a promo else they will fly that route with only business travellers, because all ma lay way will be on SEABORNE

  12. IPO
    March 26, 2013

    WOW…this has to be highlighted in bright GREEN..

    This after American Eagle said it would be suspending flights from San Juan in 2013 to a number Caribbean destinations as it attempts to shave US$75-million per year in labor costs.

    They were loosing that much money…Airlines really don’t make money man

    I wish Sea Borne good luck…Please don’t kill us with high prices

  13. grell
    March 26, 2013

    great new please give liat competition,liat is very unreliable,make a statement seaborne and you will get the costumers.

  14. RiF
    March 26, 2013

    View, ‘shave’ is correct.

    http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/shave

    Please see definition number 6.

  15. joyride
    March 26, 2013

    When they said daily flights I hope its more than one a day and not one every day because I hate that over nighting in Puerto Rico

    • Locust
      March 26, 2013

      They have 5 flight a day just to please you.

    • fathead
      March 27, 2013

      i thik is 1 for a day till the markey grow to 3 daily

  16. amethyst
    March 26, 2013

    Well at least American Eagle had one of those planes in their fleet.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:N386AEatLAX.jpg

  17. lovely :)
    March 26, 2013

    Am coming home soon. Dominica here i come.

  18. view
    March 26, 2013

    attempts to shave US$75-million per year in labor costs.
    admin correct this statement is save not shave typo error

    • dominican
      March 26, 2013

      I’m sure Admin is correct by stating they are trying to “shave” US$75M. “Shave” in this context is to “cut”. American Eagle is trying to cut spending on labor costs.

      • TeteMorne I from
        March 28, 2013

        :-P

    • Dominiquen
      March 26, 2013

      Same meaning.

    • Sigh
      March 26, 2013

      Maybe you’re the one needing the english lesson!

  19. amethyst
    March 26, 2013

    Was thinking about the size of the plane earlier on but I got it now..the SAAB 340 B is the same kind of Plane that Continenetal Airlines use as their connecting flights.Can be seen maily in the airport in Houston Continental uses at its HUB.

    • CHARMER
      March 26, 2013

      Same type of plane as the American Eagle.

  20. Anonymous
    March 26, 2013

    Very good and timely news!!

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