Although it is not a commercial flight, as yet, HummingBird Air’s first aircraft has made its inaugural landing in Dominica.
The airline is an initiative by local hotelier Sam Raphael who expressed delight that the aircraft has made it to the island.
“It is slower than I had anticipated but it is progressing steadily and we expect to be able to provide good regional connections from Canefield in the not-too-distant future,” he said.
Raphael said the aircraft landed in Dominica on Thursday morning but is only doing test flights and commercial operations will kick in early next year.
“We expect to be fully operational some time in January,” he noted.
According to Raphael, “we still have a few more things to take care of’ before going commercial.”
“We waiting on one inspection, just simple stuff and because it is the Christmas season we do not know how long the inspectors are going to take,” he noted.
Raphael is confident HummingBird Air will grow in the future.
“This is our first airplane and we are already in negotiations for a second aircraft and so, by the summer we should have a few aircraft making good regional connections out of Canefield,” he said.
I am so sick and tired of being treated like I am begging a favour , when I know I am paying my hard earn money . I am happy for Dominica, the new airline and Mr Raphael. I hope that he teams up with some other entrepreneurs ,and purchase a larger fleet with bigger planes that can serve the Caribbean region. Allow Liat , Skerrit and Ralph Gonzales to digest that completion is good for business.
So sad, and we wonder why the country won’t move forward. Any positive moves for the country and some idiot have to bring in politics. Why not be happy for the change and put your negative thoughts to the side and think of how much the country will benefit for the change. The negative thinking people are PART of the reason the country the way it is.
TRUE SAY LETS START TALKING POSITIVE
What’s all the fuss about? Coastal Air has offered us safe,reliable direct service from St Croix to Canefield airport for over 12 years. The price is right and the service nice. Seaborne Airlines recently started direct service between San Juan and Melville Hall airport with larger 30 passenger aircraft. Sam’s airplane is the same model once used by Cardinal Airlines. This service ended with the Canefield crash.
that is good. a little more life for the airport.
good improvement
Another flight for Skero to bring down more people to vote. Weh papa.
What a foolish Laborite
Good for DA Sam, but I am not flying into Canefield.
Sam Raphael is a man of his word. This is a man who has Dominica’s interest at heart; he is focused and genuine about taking economic risk, at a time when most businesses are either closing down or are barely making it due to Skerrit’s poor handling of the economy. I wonder what advice Ivor Nassief , Tonny Astaphan and the other major players behind the scene would have for Sam. And guess what, these are some of the major players who trying their best to do to him what they did to Jerry Brisbane
Let’s fly with the bird and forget the TAIL.
I am happy for the new venture. I just doh like the nsme Humming Bird cause Fu Fu crazy. Now if it was Sikiyais Airline I would be more comfortable cause Sikiyais never in a hurry. They land safely etc. Fu Fu now is zoop xxx op xxx opp bzzzzz and they gone again.
Dominicans like to wear the ignorance as a badge of honour eh!!! The late pierro was so right. Another airline comes in just be happy about it. Huminbird will not be able to compete with liat. You ppl need to understand the operational cost of running an airline.other more established airline tried and fail dont make the same mistake. Alot of dominicans like to run their mouths about competition for liat.learn from ec express, carib express, cardinal airlines, nature island airways, red jet, winair, air caribes, bwia, svg air to name a few.
Sorry!!!! but this aircraft is to small for me don’t like
well buy yourself your own jumbo jet so you can be as comfortable as you want when you fly. Another fine example of a small minded individual….
congrats Raphael,
Boy I wonder why iz not sam dey give money to fly ppl straight frm states to dca
hank god i always say one day liat is going to get some competition and that in turn will make the company pull up its sucks and give us the customers a better service .its a long time caribbean people have not enjoy traveling between the Islands because of liats incompetence and i reterate poor service go sam go the sky is the limit god blessing i wish you sucess
Dat is the plane skerrit bring down to get his people to dca to vote…. ebeh weh.. look it
I do hope that politics will not be a deterrent in barring Sam Raphael from getting a national award for nation service and development for all the philanthropist and entrepreneurial work he has done and have been doing.
I bet on my word this wont last long,
Good move,I hope this small aircraft will fly with a co pilot,I remember I flew with CK aircraft from St.Thomas to Dominica only 1pilot I said to myself never again gonna fly with an aircraft 1man pilot it was scarey,I will still fly on liat for now until CIT start its operation to Dominica,I already program my mind flying with liat, if you don’t program ur mine trust me u will be frustrated with liat.
Sam for pm
NICE..
Well done Mr Raphael, from little acorns….
But Canefield is not the Airport.
The crosswinds at Canefield have proved a major problem for passenger services.
Also Government will eventually close Canefield, as it’s a drain on Government funds.
I still have 12 more months–God’s will be done in my Life–to be in Dominica, that Christmas 2014.
I pray that by that time this Airline will be in full and safe operation–flying to Dominica. I just do not want to go through the aggravation that I experienced at St. Martin’s Airport, in August this year. Most of this aggravation had to do with the insincere service from LIAT.
Lord hear my prayers!
Getting to our destination safe and on time should be our main concern….
Well done Mr Sam and great news for DA. Give LIAT some competition at last.
great job mr rapheal i feel great to hear ur achievement congrates
I question how sustainable this enterprise is.
I question your basic understanding of the concept of supply and demand
why? are u an investor? negative attitude. u and your type are responsible for our limited success in Dominica.
it is time another airline put liat out of business
we don’t want to put anybody out of business, we just nee good reliable services from people who really cares about customer service.
God’s blessings with guidance and safety. We are moving along slowly; but we moving. Don’t make the fares too expensive nuh!
What’s happening with CIT AIR WAYS? Are they still going to be operating from Florida to Dominica.They made a brief announcement and nothing else has come forward. Will they be starting on the proposed date of Jan 2014 cuz I will be flying to DA and would rather not go by LIAT. One out knows what the status of the airline is. Please post any update if you know. Thanks.
January 2014 has 31 days, which was the proposed date?.
Make your plans without CIT. No matter what you hear they will NOT be flying in Jan.
One would think all Dominicans would embrace (without political prejudice)this new venture. LIAT has failed Dominica and the OECS.
I guess you need to be stranded at Melville Hall without any news from the LIAT representation before you understand.
You are so right!
comgratulation sam
Very good initiative , every new venture of investment is a step in the right direction , at least a few young persons will be employed , and with supprt from our locals , diaspora and visitors alike growth should be on the horizon .
Certainly blazing the trail and must be commended
It is a start
Beautiful! Good luck mr. Raphael. Private enterprise will always triumph.
I welcome progress
WELL DONE MR SAM
Skerrit should give Sam the money cause he could get a bigger on. Alas poor us and LIAT.
Raphael keep on trying for us,you will overcome,skerro where is the prfit from liat,anything yet.
Skerrit we could use the 4 million you invested in liat….
CONGRATULATIONS!!! GREAT START! Men with great ideas and want DA to do well but their thought into action and soon results will be forth coming. This is a great achievement for every Dominican. We looking forward in giving our local airline maximum support possible.
WHEN HUMMINGBIRD FLIES, DOMINICA RISE!!!
Great initiative – will support this enterprise.
Now LIAT gonna be under a lil pressure. :/
That’s kool. But me na fly on da. I kill to much fufu wit katapul
@ Cza: This is as swift as they come. I’m Dominica living in Puerto Rico and for a few years I have been traveling with the small Cape Air, SeaBorne etc. to travel through the islands. I’ve never had problems, thank God!
Why did LIAT stop flying into Canefield? Just asking. Has there been any improvements in the issue of the cross winds??????? Just asking again.
@Scared… You should ask LIAT why they stopped flying into Canefield. I bet the response won’t have NOTHING to do with crosswind.
held a meeting with the Creator but the negotiations were unsuccessful. the crosswinds are going to stay. so no improvements on the issue with the crosswinds.
Bravo Sam…..we will give you all the support we can. But, Change Must Come…..
Assertice, NOT Agressive!
Well done Mr. Raphael.
Don’t be fooled by many of the bloggers here on DNO. They all thinking clandestinely in their minds that they not traveling on that ” vovon ” and would rather take the pain of liat.
Blessing and prosperity to your efforts but let’s see if Dominicans will support their own. Long tongue Dominicans have.
“vovon” lol, lol, lol, still lol!!!
Where have all the vovons gone???!!! I haven’t seen any for a while now.
I think the airline is a great idea, and I would definitely fly the vovon.
“Vovon” made me laugh soooooo much. Seriously, I think Sam Raphael should have named the airline Vovon Air. Hummingbirds are beautiful but predictable as a name for a Caribbean based airline, but Vovon, what a talking point that would be!!!