Elite Airways, a Maine-based regional jet operator that ceased operations in July 2022, has announced its intent to resume service this year.
In a filing with the U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) dated June 9, the carrier seeks a 30-day waiver of revocation-for-dormancy provisions, “in order to recommence operations on or about Sept. 1, 2023.”
Elite, founded in 2006 as an air taxi operator, suspended both scheduled and charter service on July 23, 2022, after several weeks of canceled flights it attributed to grounded aircraft undergoing maintenance and awaiting parts. If no waiver is granted, the carrier’s authority to conduct service would be revoked on the one-year anniversary of that date.
“Elite has diligently sought funding so that it could pay aircraft lease payments, insurance premiums, employee salaries and benefits, vendors, landing fees and other accounts receivable,” it writes in the filing. “Recently Elite signed a letter of intent with a U.S. citizen investor who has considerable experience in owning an air carrier.”
The funding—described as enough to cover all pending liabilities and projected costs for its first three months of resumed service—is expected to be received on or before July 30.
If approved, the waiver would bump its dormancy window out to Aug. 22, “by which time Elite expects to provide a notice to recommence service and submit all the fitness information required,” it says.
According to Aviation Week Network’s Fleet Discovery, Elite leases six aircraft, comprising three Bombardier CRJ200s, two CRJ700s, and one CRJ900. Before ceasing operations, the carrier operated service between Vero Beach, Florida, and Portland, Maine (PWM); Westchester County, New York; and Newark Liberty (EWR); and St. Augustine, Florida, service from EWR and PWM.
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