Shoreline Aviation has combined its operations with Cape Air, a move which will allow the Massachusetts company to expand into the seaplane travel market.
In announcing the merger, company officials indicated it will also provide passengers with greater travel convenience.
Based at Tweed New Haven Airport, Shoreline Aviation provides seaplane services for passengers to several locales, including around the Northeast, New York, Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.
Shoreline Aviation President John Kelly called it a “seamless” merger.
“Cape Air has wanted to get into the seaplane market for years,” Kelly said. “We are expanding our services into their market. It is a specialized business, and they decided they needed to partner with a company which has been doing this. They approached us so they could expand into seaplane operations.”
Shoreline Aviation has about 35 employees, and there will be no impact on its staffing in connection with the merger, according to Kelly.
“It will be all the same pilots and staff,” he said.
Company officials investigated multiple options before choosing to partner with Cape Air. Shoreline Aviation was impressed with Cape Air’s safety track record, support and training for employees, aircraft maintenance and customer service, according to Kelly.
“With this merger we will be able to expand the reach of seaplanes throughout the Northeast and other regions as well, providing scheduled service, on-demand charter, and seamless travel options to customers of both companies,” Kelly said.
Shoreline Aviation, based at 60 Thompson Ave., East Haven, is in its 40th year of operation, and it is the largest seaplane operator on the East Coast, according to the company. It has a fleet of 10 Cessna Caravan Amphibians, including three new Cessna Caravan EX aircraft which feature larger cabins.
The company is responsible for about 26 percent of flights out of Tweed, according to Kelly.
Linda Markham, president of Cape Air, said the two companies share a similar culture and commitment to safety and service.
“This partnership of talents supports Cape Air’s ongoing mission to bring seaplane service back to Boston Harbor, for the first time since 1946,” Markham said. “We are thrilled that our customers and partners will now have access to an extraordinary portfolio of travel options and are delighted to serve travelers in a new and exciting way.”
Cape Air, based in Hyannis, Mass., is heading into its 30th year, and the two companies have a combination of seven decades of experience. Cape Air serves more than 35 destinations in the United States and Caribbean. It currently offers about 400 flights a day and service to more than 500,000 passengers annually.
Contact Michelle Tuccitto Sullo at msullo@newhavenbiz.com
