Silver Airlines to launch nonstop service between Savannah and Orlando (Atlanta: 2015, airport)

[Airforceguy]

SAV is on a roll this year with adding airlines....

The new route also will offer connection to Silver destinations throughout Florida, including one-stop service to Fort Meyers, Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Tallahassee and Pensacola, as well as the Bahamas.

“We are thrilled to be bringing the airline of choice for Florida and the Bahamas to the Southeast,” said Silver Airways CEO Sami Teittinen. “We look forward to providing customers with our convenient and much needed flights linking Savannah-Hilton and Orlando, as well as one-stop connections to other Silver Airways destinations in Florida and Bahamas.”

“The Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport is pleased to hear that Silver Airlines will begin service here in June,” said executive director Greg Kelly. “We have been without direct flights to Florida since 2011 when American Eagle discontinued operations to Miami. … We feel confident that this service will be successful and possibly lead to additional nonstop destinations.”

Silver’s flights are operated with its fleet of 27 34-seat Saab 340B Plus turbo-prop aircraft.

Members of United’s MileagePlus and JetBlue’s TrueBlue customer loyalty programs can earn frequent flyer awards for travel throughout Silver’s network.

Silver Airlines to launch nonstop service between Savannah and Orlando | savannahnow.com

[TheDarkKnight]

Wow. So in the last year we got Jet Blue, the airlines to Cincinnati and now this. On a roll.

[Newsboy]

Originally Posted by TheDarkKnight

Wow. So in the last year we got Jet Blue, the airlines to Cincinnati and now this. On a roll.

This makes 6 new routes / destinations this year (I think?) not counting the additional service that was added by other airlines in response to JetBlue.

And this new route is going to Orlando International -- NOT Sanford! That's a huge plus if you're making connections to other Florida cities. Going to Disney World? No thanks ... I'd rather drive.

[WanderingImport]

I love it! I can't wait to see the numbers next year.

I'm still rooting for Southwest to enter the market!

Originally Posted by TheDarkKnight

Wow. So in the last year we got Jet Blue, the airlines to Cincinnati and now this. On a roll.

That airline you're thinking of is Allegiant with service to Cincinnati, Columbus and Canton-Akron.

Originally Posted by Newsboy

This makes 6 new routes / destinations this year (I think?) not counting the additional service that was added by other airlines in response to JetBlue.

And this new route is going to Orlando International -- NOT Sanford! That's a huge plus if you're making connections to other Florida cities. Going to Disney World? No thanks ... I'd rather drive.

Hmmm... off the top of my head;

Sun Country with service to MSP

Allegiant with service to CVG, CMH and CAK

and now Silver with service to MCO

What am I missing? (Aside from JetBlue's service which was added last year)

[Airforceguy]

Looks like the service is being put on hold....

Lori Lynah, director of marketing and air service development with Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, said a representative from Silver Airways called Tuesday and said the airline would not be starting the service at the previously agreed date.

A new date has not been set, and Silver Airways has postponed the service until further notice. The flights were scheduled to start June 23, and the company is currently reaching out to customers and providing refunds.

Promotions offered one-way tickets from Savannah to Orlando for $89.

Misty Pinson, director of public relations and communications for Silver Airways, said the airline monitored bookings and market performance for the direct flights and found the market does not support a new route right now.

Silver Airways postpones service from Savannah to Orlando | savannahnow.com

[Newsboy]

Boo!

[CoastalGAGuy]

All right, so I know this is just curmudgeon talk, but I have to say, I'm not crazy about these part-time routes to non-hub destinations. What kind of rag-tag airport are we wanting? The Allegiant flights, for instance, are just a couple of times a week. I know it's all we can get, but it would be nice to be able to fly direct to places I want to actually go.

[midgeorgiaman]

Silver airways is a mess. They were flying from Macon to Atlanta and Orlando for awhile...well I use that verb loosely. They were scheduled to fly, but a huge number of their flights were canceled. Given...Macon's airport passenger wise dried up after Delta pulled out, Silver took the chance, but needed to build a customer base again. Cancelling half or more of your flights doesn't build customer confidence. Rag tag operation if you ask me. You are probably better off that Silver isn't wasting any of your gate space.

[snowchaser2002]

A little off topic and I am sorry, but what does the SAV airport look like now in terms of flights on mainline aircraft? I know back in the late 90's( which is a lifetime ago in airline) they use to have big 757's from delta fly in, and maybe some from other airlines. That was before the regional jet takeover I know. I figure it's the same thing that has happened in Jacksonville Fl.

[ajc100890]

Originally Posted by snowchaser2002

A little off topic and I am sorry, but what does the SAV airport look like now in terms of flights on mainline aircraft? I know back in the late 90's( which is a lifetime ago in airline) they use to have big 757's from delta fly in, and maybe some from other airlines. That was before the regional jet takeover I know. I figure it's the same thing that has happened in Jacksonville Fl.

It's mostly small regional jets, mostly Embraers and Bombardiers, on Delta and American. JetBlue flies Airbus A320/1s. US and United fly a cocktail of Embraers, Bombardiers, and Airbus A320s.

Delta does have some larger flights from Atlanta to Savannah so I don't think it's out of the question to see a 737 or 757 fly into the airport.