There's been a lot of interesting recent changes to the Elite Airways Route Map:

Closed Stations:
Naples
Newport News
Rockland
Branson
Houston
Denver

New Stations:
Asheville https://www.prunderground.com/elite-air ... y/0089153/
Bimini, Bahamas
Halifax http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/ ... n-mid-2q17

New Routes:
BIM - EWR
BIM - MLB
MLB - SRQ
AVL - VRB
PWM - YHZ

Now listed as "Seasonal"
Islip
Myrtle Beach
Ft. Colins - Loveland, CO
Bar Harbor

There was chatter a few months ago regarding Tallahassee to both SRQ and VRB starting in March, but nothing seems to happened on this front:
http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2 ... /95262282/

Some really odd routes they are adding. If any of they work I'd be shocked.

Wow EWR/MLB-BIM? I think MHH (Marsh Harbor) or GGT (Exuma) would have been much better options in terms of success then BIM. And what kind of market is there from Halifax to Portland, Maine? I've always thought a boutique airline could do well flying higher end clientele from New York to smaller islands in the Bahamas on a scheduled basis, lets see how it plays out. The CRJ200 or E145 are perfect aircraft for this task. Looks like flights are Thursdays and Sundays starting the end of April.

ryan78 wrote:

Wow EWR/MLB-BIM? I think MHH (Marsh Harbor) or GGT (Exuma) would have been much better options in terms of success then BIM. And what kind of market is there from Halifax to Portland, Maine? I've always thought a boutique airline could do well flying higher end clientele from New York to smaller islands in the Bahamas on a scheduled basis, lets see how it plays out. The CRJ200 or E145 are perfect aircraft for this task. Looks like flights are Thursdays and Sundays starting the end of April.

BIM has a short runway (it looks like about 5,400 feet, but I don't have charts and am basing that on the Google Maps ruler, so I may not quite be accurate). It's going to be tough for a CR2 to get out of there and get to EWR at full payload, especially if there is weather enroute or they need an alternate.

I'm not entirely surprised to see PWM-YHZ pop up again.

There's a relatively significant demand from the Canadian maritimes to Maine, both for tourism and as an access point to the US East Coast (the drive up and around the gulf is not insignificant).

The Canadian government has subsidized two recent services: Twin Cities Air Services (a Maine-based charter operator) on Cessna 402s in 2010/2011, and Starlink Airlines (Montreal-based charter operator) on Jetstream 31s for a brief period in 2009. Even subsidized, both failed to break even when running multiple flights a day.

There have also been several ferry services (both high-speed and conventional) operating between Maine and Nova Scotia. The most recent ferry was repossessed in Portland harbor for nonpayment of its bills. I'm not sure if a ferry will be running this summer; if not there's likely a gap to be filled by air service.

I know a ton of locals that will do that MLB-BIM flight and the times are pretty attractive

Looks like Elite built a little hanger also. Kinda proud of them.

celltower wrote:

Newport News

PHF service never launched. It was announced and they started running local ads, but about a month or so later they announced an indefinite delay in launching the service. It was supposed to start two weeks ago.

Branson/Houston/Denver were all Branson Air Expess. Via Air will be operating all Branson Air Express service this season.

Yes, Newport News never launched

MYR and BHB has always been intended to be seasonal.

RFD-FNL did not operate last summer. Are they bringing it back or are they going to fly FNL to somewhere else?

The runway at BIM is officially 5,430 ft.

celltower wrote:

MLB - SRQ/

This is just a tag-on

Recent article / expose focuses on Elite Airways and interviews its CEO John Pearsall.

https://www.newscentermaine.com/article ... -560679358

What I found most interesting was this, towards the end of the article.

This fall, he expects to receive delivery of his first 757's. He also expects to begin a maintenance base in Auburn-Lewiston that will employ 50 people.

Did I miss Elite buying secondhand 757's?? or is the article mistaken?

Mainer flew to RKD?

Elite is planning on running flights out of Rochester MN to cities that have Mayo Clinic located there. Scottsdale AZ ,and Jacksonville Fla...Rochester MN is home to the Mayo Clinic

N766UA wrote:

Mainer flew to RKD?

No.
I think it was mistaken for Rockford,IL for the RFD-FNL seasonal flight that has been dormant for some time. Pitiful operation IMO.

I thought the Bahamians extended the runway in Bimini.. I know it was also repaved in the past year or two.

There is some SERIOUS crack smoking going on at the HQ of this bizarre little operation.

Its like some little kid is sitting in front of a map, sticking pins in and then shaking them all off 5 minutes later. Who is funding this silly mess?

I would love to see them come back to ISP. But after what happened, I doubt they would even dare come back

Balloonchaser wrote:

I would love to see them come back to ISP. But after what happened, I doubt they would even dare come back

what happened in ISP?

F27500 wrote:

Balloonchaser wrote:

I would love to see them come back to ISP. But after what happened, I doubt they would even dare come back

what happened in ISP?

I second this question, unless you mean F9's entrance into the market.

Here is the link to the press release about new service at RST (Rochester, Minnesota).

http://flyrst.com/2018/05/31/elite-airw ... l-airport/

It will be interesting to see if it works. I would imagine its success depends on the amount of travel between Clinic sites. Mayo's policy to require employees to utilize RST as part of the destination medical center initiative should help.

[i[/i]

Arch89U wrote:

Here is the link to the press release about new service at RST (Rochester, Minnesota).

http://flyrst.com/2018/05/31/elite-airw ... l-airport/

It will be interesting to see if it works. I would imagine its success depends on the amount of travel between Clinic sites. Mayo's policy to require employees to utilize RST as part of the destination medical center initiative should help.

Also interesting on their website is announced THUR/SUN service from PHX to IFP.

Cubsrule wrote:

ryan78 wrote:

Wow EWR/MLB-BIM? I think MHH (Marsh Harbor) or GGT (Exuma) would have been much better options in terms of success then BIM. And what kind of market is there from Halifax to Portland, Maine? I've always thought a boutique airline could do well flying higher end clientele from New York to smaller islands in the Bahamas on a scheduled basis, lets see how it plays out. The CRJ200 or E145 are perfect aircraft for this task. Looks like flights are Thursdays and Sundays starting the end of April.

BIM has a short runway (it looks like about 5,400 feet, but I don't have charts and am basing that on the Google Maps ruler, so I may not quite be accurate). It's going to be tough for a CR2 to get out of there and get to EWR at full payload, especially if there is weather enroute or they need an alternate.

I'm not sure how accurate is, but world-airport-codes lists it a 5,430 x 100, you are are spot.

SRQ-HPN was supposed to return on June 15....not bookable

another genius one was PWM-MBS-APF...since discontined..but...seriously???

I have medical staff family that works at Mayo in JAX. They have little if any day-to-day with RST and in over 6 years in JAX have traveled to RST
only twice to update some type certifications for oncology. There apparently is not a high volume of medical or administrative staff that travel between the 3 locations on a frequent basis.
And likely not many keen on a CRJ flight from RST to JAX at 3+ hours duration.
It is a bit alarming that no experienced route or revenue management is at Elite to develop a more viable revenue and service business plan.
I posted the original PHF service pattern was not sustainable.
You start with basics. How many PEOPLE want to fly daily from A to B, or to C via B, or any combination thereof. Just showing up in town doesn't guarantee people will flock to your service, you can maintain it or other airlines won't show up to compete.
There are too many examples of successful airlines who have found a niche market. Elite should be better at the game to really make it work.

F27500 wrote:

another genius one was PWM-MBS-APF...since discontined..but...seriously???

HUH????
Portland-Saginaw-Naples
You sure about that?

Melbourne. Saginaw. What's the difference?

727LOVER wrote:

F27500 wrote:

another genius one was PWM-MBS-APF...since discontined..but...seriously???

HUH????
Portland-Saginaw-Naples
You sure about that?

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1382511&start=200


not sure if its posting properly since Im doing it from my little phone. its in the A.Net thread here called "The Rest Of New England".. page 5.

Elite has CRJ-700's as well as -200's. The CRJ-700 has much better short runway takeoff performance and can most likely make the trip from BIM to EWR.

MO11 wrote:

Melbourne. Saginaw. What's the difference?

F27500 wrote:

727LOVER wrote:
F27500 wrote:
another genius one was PWM-MBS-APF...since discontined..but...seriously???



HUH????
Portland-Saginaw-Naples
You sure about that?



viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1382511&start=200


not sure if its posting properly since Im doing it from my little phone. its in the A.Net thread here called "The Rest Of New England".. page 5.

LO freakin L

Yeah, that was PWM-MLB-APF. I remember that now
https://www.tcpalm.com/story/news/local ... /96666122/

They seem to be doing well @ VRB

gotta give Elite credit for trying. New rumors are they are going to start flying to Key West.

evank516 wrote:

F27500 wrote:

Balloonchaser wrote:

I would love to see them come back to ISP. But after what happened, I doubt they would even dare come back

what happened in ISP?

I second this question, unless you mean F9's entrance into the market.

They told us that they were seasonally cancelling service due to fleet shortage, but then they just left.. Leaving many people without flights for the Easter Break

OK...so according to their website...they will start MLB-EYW in October

727LOVER wrote:

OK...so according to their website...they will start MLB-EYW in October

For now. Lol

SRQLOT wrote:

727LOVER wrote:

OK...so according to their website...they will start MLB-EYW in October

For now. Lol

True

SRQ-HPN was supposed to restart on June 15...no sign of it.

I see on their website they're offering IFP-PHX for $99. How long have they been flying that?
That is not worth the airport hassle. It's not that bad of a drive.

KICT wrote:

I see on their website they're offering IFP-PHX for $99. How long have they been flying that?
That is not worth the airport hassle. It's not that bad of a drive.

Having lived in northern AZ for years, I thought the same.

Horrible flight time into IFP as aircraft flies IFP PHX RST PHX IFP.

flyboy7974 wrote:

KICT wrote:

I see on their website they're offering IFP-PHX for $99. How long have they been flying that?
That is not worth the airport hassle. It's not that bad of a drive.

Having lived in northern AZ for years, I thought the same.

Horrible flight time into IFP as aircraft flies IFP PHX RST PHX IFP.

OK .. i'll be the one .... where (i can only imagine, since its Elite) is IFP?

Elite is an interesting little airline that I've been closely following since they started scheduled ops three or four years ago. I honestly didn't expect them to last even two years flying long distance routes with CRJ200 and -700s. I think they have a fleet of about 10 CRJ200 and -700s at current time?

Elite is Portland, Maine based, with their headquarters in downtown Portland. Most of heir fleet is at MBS. I can't speak for their non-Maine routes, but apparently their PWM to Florida flights have going very well? On some days, they even have to add an extra flight to Melbourne or Sarasota. Vero Beach just started in the last month, so I'm not sure how that's going? However, the existing flights to MBS and Sarasota have held on.

At least in their market in Maine, they're trying to attract a significant customer base traveling to Florida, particularly secondary cities, that have no other non-stop options from PWM (Many vacationers here, as well as seasonal residents that spend their time between Maine and Florida. Florida destinations are the most popular routes from PWM following NYC/DCA/PHL.

The PWM-MBS-APF was trying to attract local traveler's in Maine who would have otherwise flown to Ft. Myers. APF (Naples) is a huge retirement area with many New Englanders moving there or having seasonal residence.

I will continue to watch this niche airline with curiosity. They also do a significant bit of college sports team charters. In fact, they were flying charters for two or three years before they went scheduled.

F27500 wrote:

OK .. i'll be the one .... where (i can only imagine, since its Elite) is IFP?

Laughlin

And Melbourne,FL is MLB, not MBS. That is Saginaw,MI.

727LOVER wrote:

F27500 wrote:

OK .. i'll be the one .... where (i can only imagine, since its Elite) is IFP?

Laughlin

Twice weekly E170 service. I would think they are getting a substantial subsidy for that trip. They are already operating Laughlin charters on the 170 for Harrah’s.

I am not sure why I JUST noticed this. Apparently, they quit Newport News for a 2nd time

http://www.dailypress.com/business/tide ... story.html

This is from March...but I just noticed because I think they finally removed it from their route map.


They're planning PHF-Florida still.?
So they have announced TWICE, canceled the service before the start date TWICE...who the hell would book them? They aren't cheap, either.

F27500 wrote:

There is some SERIOUS crack smoking going on at the HQ of this bizarre little operation.

usxguy wrote:

gotta give Elite credit for trying. New rumors are they are going to start flying to Key West.

From where? Zanesville, Ohio?

well, its hard to NOT make Key West work. Unless you are Southwest and use the excuse they did.

usxguy wrote:

well, its hard to NOT make Key West work. Unless you are Southwest and use the excuse they did.

What excuse did they use? The

Here’s an interesting tidbit, ch-aviation reporting that Elite will be adding 757s later this year.

Falcon Flyer wrote:

Here’s an interesting tidbit, ch-aviation reporting that Elite will be adding 757s later this year.

I heard that rumor in 2016...

MLB-EYW is now bookable.

But guess what seems to have disappeared.
Still on their route map & list of destinations...but Bimini (BIM) is no longer bookable
Are they gone?

727LOVER wrote:

MLB-EYW is now bookable.

But guess what seems to have disappeared.
Still on their route map & list of destinations...but Bimini (BIM) is no longer bookable
Are they gone?

MLB-EYW begins October 19, twice weekly on Friday and Sunday, just in time for the Fantasy Fest Crowd. No PR about this new route though. Also starting soon is RST-UST (St. Augustine), RST-PHX and IFP-PHX.

They have 11 CRJs, what is their fleet utilization? Doesn’t seem that high, one sits at SRQ for couple days each week