NEW WINDSOR – Stewart Airport has landed a homegrown cargo carrier that plans to commence operations to the Caribbean late this month.
Carib-South Airways, which is headquartered at Stewart, plans to fly
fresh fruits and vegetables to Jamaica, the Dominican Republic, Haiti
and Puerto Rico and return from the islands with fish “which is
in high demand here,” said airline Vice President for Marketing
and Sales Haiden Victor.
Initially they will fly one weekly roundtrip and expect to increase that
to four roundtrips weekly as demand increases, said Victor.
“To us it was a better move because of the flight program coming out of this area, the distance with no congestion with traffic – of course you have some congestion but it’s not that bad. It’s about an hour-and-a-half from midtown Manhattan and out of New Jersey, it’s just about less than two hours,” he said.
Victor also said the airline chose Stewart as its hub because it of its
accessibility to the New York and New England markets.
Part two of Carib-South’s plans is to provide passenger flights
to the islands. They are expected to start in December with one roundtrip
flight weekly to start and more as demand grows.
Those flights will be sold as packages with resort accommodations and ground transportation included.
The new cargo service “builds on Stewart Airport’s plans to enhance our existing cargo activities,” said Ed Harrison, Stewart Airport’s general manager. “These operations create economic benefits and jobs, as well as promote commerce in the region.”
“The positive climate being developed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and the governor’s office through tax incentives and other support was key in our decision to locate here,” said Carib-South’s President Donovan Neita.
Cargo will be shipped on leased Boeing 737 and 727 aircraft and passenger flights will most likely be aboard Airbus 320 or Boeing 767 aircraft, Victor said.
