Silver Airways is set to launch its newest aircraft in the Caribbean, the company said this week. 

The Fort Lauderdale-based carrier, which has a vast network of flights both to The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean (the latter out of its hub in San Juan), is launching four new ATR-600 series planes in the Caribbean this year. 

That includes one 72-seat ATR 72-600 that launched this week, along with three 42-seat ATR 42-600 planes, which will launch over the next four months. 

“This is an exciting time for Silver Airways and regional airline flying as we continue our fleet transformation and focus on providing the highest level of safe, reliable and customer-friendly service,” said Silver Airways CEO Steve Rossum.  “Starting operations of the new ATR 72-600 aircraft in the Caribbean from our San Juan gateway is another great milestone for Silver Airways, ATR, our customers, our airline partners, the communities we serve and our team members.”

Silver Airways said it would be focusing the new planes on routes to the US Virgin Islands, particularly fro mSan Juan to St Thomas and St Croix, before rolling them out to routes to destinations like Dominica and St Maarten, among others. 

“It is a pleasure to welcome Silver Airway’s new fleet to Puerto Rico. The use of the ATR-600 series in their Caribbean flight network strengthens the Island’s position as the main air access hub in the region. Promoting new air access options, the creation of new routes and increasing flight frequency availability is a priority for Puerto Rico’s Governor, Wanda Vázquez Garced, and part of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company’s strategies to maximize the potential of the travel and tourism industry and to continue positioning the Island as a world-class destination,” said Carla Campos, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

— CJ