HummingBird Air lands in Dominica

The aircraft at the Canefield Airport on Thursday
The aircraft at the Canefield Airport on Thursday

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.

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62 Comments

  1. October 11, 2015

    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.

  2. Outsider looking in
    July 14, 2014

    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.

  3. cruzan offshore
    December 30, 2013

    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.

  4. Anonymous
    December 22, 2013

    that is good. a little more life for the airport.

  5. time will tell
    December 22, 2013

    good improvement

  6. UWP
    December 21, 2013

    Another flight for Skero to bring down more people to vote. Weh papa.

    • Hans
      December 23, 2013

      What a foolish Laborite

  7. Uneducated
    December 21, 2013

    Good for DA Sam, but I am not flying into Canefield.

  8. Patriot # 3
    December 21, 2013

    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

  9. Fabulous
    December 21, 2013

    Let’s fly with the bird and forget the TAIL. :lol:

  10. vyan Maniku
    December 21, 2013

    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.

  11. yes I moderator
    December 21, 2013

    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.

  12. Bim
    December 20, 2013

    Sorry!!!! but this aircraft is to small for me don’t like

    • Anonymous
      December 2, 2014

      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….

  13. December 20, 2013

    congrats Raphael,

  14. lolz
    December 20, 2013

    Boy I wonder why iz not sam dey give money to fly ppl straight frm states to dca

  15. December 20, 2013

    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

  16. unknown
    December 20, 2013

    Dat is the plane skerrit bring down to get his people to dca to vote…. ebeh weh.. look it :-D

  17. Pundit
    December 20, 2013

    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.

  18. artfield
    December 20, 2013

    I bet on my word this wont last long,

  19. December 20, 2013

    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.

  20. American
    December 20, 2013

    Sam for pm

  21. December 20, 2013

    NICE.. :-D

  22. SiangUK
    December 20, 2013

    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.

  23. December 19, 2013

    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!

  24. Anonymous
    December 19, 2013

    Getting to our destination safe and on time should be our main concern….

  25. jane messam
    December 19, 2013

    Well done Mr Sam and great news for DA. Give LIAT some competition at last.

  26. December 19, 2013

    great job mr rapheal i feel great to hear ur achievement congrates :lol:

  27. MewMew
    December 19, 2013

    I question how sustainable this enterprise is.

    • Anonymous
      December 20, 2013

      I question your basic understanding of the concept of supply and demand

    • RubbishNews.Dom
      December 21, 2013

      why? are u an investor? negative attitude. u and your type are responsible for our limited success in Dominica.

  28. Anonymous
    December 19, 2013

    it is time another airline put liat out of business

    • boowell
      December 20, 2013

      we don’t want to put anybody out of business, we just nee good reliable services from people who really cares about customer service.

  29. 4CARS
    December 19, 2013

    God’s blessings with guidance and safety. We are moving along slowly; but we moving. Don’t make the fares too expensive nuh!

  30. Anonymous
    December 19, 2013

    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.

    • goosh
      December 20, 2013

      January 2014 has 31 days, which was the proposed date?.

    • Anonymous
      December 20, 2013

      Make your plans without CIT. No matter what you hear they will NOT be flying in Jan.

  31. Christian Volney
    December 19, 2013

    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.

    • 4CARS
      December 20, 2013

      You are so right!

  32. tj
    December 19, 2013

    comgratulation sam

  33. BEACHPILOT437
    December 19, 2013

    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 .

  34. Anonymous
    December 19, 2013

    Certainly blazing the trail and must be commended

  35. hope
    December 19, 2013

    It is a start :-D

  36. Malgraysa
    December 19, 2013

    Beautiful! Good luck mr. Raphael. Private enterprise will always triumph.

  37. Oh Yes
    December 19, 2013

    I welcome progress

  38. CYRIL LLONGTING
    December 19, 2013

    WELL DONE MR SAM

  39. Anonymous
    December 19, 2013

    Skerrit should give Sam the money cause he could get a bigger on. Alas poor us and LIAT.

  40. grell
    December 19, 2013

    Raphael keep on trying for us,you will overcome,skerro where is the prfit from liat,anything yet.

  41. Aye
    December 19, 2013

    Skerrit we could use the 4 million you invested in liat….

  42. 4u2C
    December 19, 2013

    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!!!

  43. Airtarffic
    December 19, 2013

    Great initiative – will support this enterprise.

  44. trolol
    December 19, 2013

    Now LIAT gonna be under a lil pressure. :/

  45. Cza
    December 19, 2013

    That’s kool. But me na fly on da. I kill to much fufu wit katapul :mrgreen:

    • okay
      December 20, 2013

      @ 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!

  46. Scared
    December 19, 2013

    Why did LIAT stop flying into Canefield? Just asking. Has there been any improvements in the issue of the cross winds??????? Just asking again.

    • blow
      December 19, 2013

      @Scared… You should ask LIAT why they stopped flying into Canefield. I bet the response won’t have NOTHING to do with crosswind.

    • budman
      December 19, 2013

      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.

  47. Shameless
    December 19, 2013

    Bravo Sam…..we will give you all the support we can. But, Change Must Come…..

    Assertice, NOT Agressive!

    • Anonymous
      December 19, 2013

      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.

      • Just a Suggestion
        December 21, 2013

        “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.

      • Just a Suggestion
        December 21, 2013

        “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!!!

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