NEW YORK – US Global Airways
President Anthony Koulouris has announced the startup airline is going
to acquire Songbird Airways, Inc. of Florida to expedite its plans to
commence flights from Stewart International Airport near Newburgh.
As a good-faith measure, US Global put a $1 million deposit down toward
the $6.2 million purchase.
Songbird has the required FAA Part 121 certification and a Boeing 737-400
airplane that it has used for charter flights. Koulouris said he would
hope to close on the airline acquisition on or before September 15 and
start flights immediately. But, instead of planning to provide service
to Europe and the Middle-East immediately, they will focus on the Caribbean
islands “as well as various domestic and international charter opportunities,”
he said in a letter to shareholders.
US Global also entered into an aircraft lease agreement with Kalitta Air,
LLC to lease a Boeing 767-300ER. While that agreement was made in May
and original plans were to take delivery no later than July 30 of this
year, “we have made a business decision to delay delivery of this
aircraft due to the Songbird acquisition.” He said it is their intention
to bring the 767 online “sometime in 2018 and commence service to
Europe and the Middle-East.”
