Although a brand new regional startup carrier was alleged to finally start flights between the US and Canada this month and in September, evidently flying has been postponed till early August as Massachusetts-based Connect Airlines is allegedly struggling to fulfill the certification requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Trouble with the US DOT
Connect Airlines is a proposed regional carrier originally intended to offer flight services between Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport and the Midwest and Northeast US cities and plans to fly between Toronto to and from Chicago and Philadelphia. The proposed airline also plans to accommodate a De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400s fleet.
As per its FAA-issued interstate and foreign operating authorizations, Connect Airlines was required to start flights by July and September this yr, respectively. But on June sixteenth, the proposed regional carrier wrote to the US Department of Transportation (US DOT) to increase its deadline until October fifth to start flying.
Photo: Connect Airlines
And its response on July fifth, the US DOT only allowed Connect Airlines until August fifth to offer sufficient evidence that it was indeed making adequate progress on ending FAA requirements. The department’s response letter read:
“It doesn’t appear that Connect Airlines has made satisfactory progress toward obtaining FAA authority. The FAA notified the department that the proposed airline’s proving flights were terminated. Connect Airlines must provide adequate evidence that it still meets the department’s fitness criteria and that the applicant is making satisfactory progress in obtaining the required safety authority from the FAA.”
More problems ensued
However the alleged problems for the proposed regional startup do not only end there, because the US DOT also cited how Connect Airlines’ predominant foreign capital is one other significant obstacle to certification. Which means Connect Airlines is moreover required to present sufficient evidence that it has obtained equivalent capital contributions from US parties.
Photo: Connect Airlines
In line with the US DOT, the proposed carrier provided little to no information in its written extension request that permits the department to adequately confirm that Connect Airlines is fit enough or is receiving additional capital contributions from US residents. In other words, the situation for Connect Airlines looks relatively dull and bleak from the department’s perspective.
A unique perspective
Yet quite the opposite, the startup shares a special side of the story with its Director of Public Affairs, Scott Brownrigg, telling FlightGlobal that the certification process has several phases and that proving flights are still happening as an alternative of getting been terminated as stated within the US DOT’s response letter.
Citing an alarming error within the department’s letter, Brownrigg highlights that Connect Airlines’ certification process is constant well, and the startup is working alongside the FAA as a part of the traditional process. He even hinted that the FAA could be conducting a final manual review soon and that additional proving flights could be accomplished later this summer.
Photo: Connect Airlines
Given the estimated timeline of those additional proving flights, Connect Airlines felt the necessity to request for an extension to the US DOT’s provisions as under these provisions, the agency has the fitting to revoke the interstate and foreign air operating authorizations one yr after issuance from carriers which have yet to start flying.
Bottom line
Overall, this looks like a sophisticated case of miscommunications and unmet expectations. Hopefully, Connect Airlines can quickly resolve the situation with the US DOT while completing the certification process with the FAA.
But even when such obstacles are cleared, the startup regional carrier still has red tape to remove with Transport Canada before transborder revenue flights might be launched. The query then becomes, when will Connect Airlines finally take to the skies with passengers? Only time will tell.