Cayman Airways has commenced its search for a new Twin Otter aircraft to service the domestic air bridge.
The national flag carrier, through a request for quotations, has invited bids as it seeks to purchase or lease “a suitable De Havilland DHC-6-300 aircraft”.
The RFQ, which was issued Friday, 21 April, provides for offers of a 12-month, 24-month or 36-month lease.
There is also an offer for an outright aircraft purchase.
At present, the airline has two twin otter planes in service. However, back in December Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan promised that a third prop plane would be acquired.
That promise followed challenges with inter-island travel between Cayman Brac and Little Cayman in November when tourists had to be ferried to and from the Sister Islands on dive boats when both Twin Otter planes were out of action.
Cayman Airways CEO Fabian Whorms, in an interview on the Cayman Compass talkshow ‘The Resh Hour’ earlier this year, said delivery of the Twin Otter may take some time.
Noting the “severe shortage of these types of aircraft”, he said couldn’t promise the airline “will have a third one in place for the upcoming maintenance season, but it’s far enough away that I’m pretty confident we will be able to acquire and have a third Otter”.
Every autumn, the Twin Otters all require annual heavy maintenance, Whorms said at the time.
Cayman Airways has a dedicated unit on island that performs routine and preventative maintenance on the planes throughout the year.
However, the aircraft, he said, get overhauled once a year where they are sent overseas for additional work.
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