Portland-based Elite Airways to start new route
Elite Airways, a Portland-based charter airline company better known for transporting the White House press corps, NASCAR and professional sports teams and corporate executives, said today that it will start a twice weekly route between Melbourne (Fla.) International Airport and Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
The airline plans to launch one round trip flight Mondays and Thursdays beginning Sept. 8, pending Department of Transportation approval, a spokeswoman for the company told Mainebiz. It plans to use CRJ-200 Regional jets.
Elite, which was founded in 2006, has offices in Portland and Melbourne. It received commercial certification from the Federal Aviation Administration in late 2012.
The company did not respond to requests for estimates on flight volumes or expected income from the new route by press time.
"After seven years, it's exciting for us to transition into the scheduled service arena," Elite Airways President John Pearsall said in a statement. "We plan to bring the comfort, convenience and personal service associated with the charter industry to our commercial passengers in key cities along the East Coast."
Traveler perks include a first checked bag policy and no additional charges for a change in plans.
Pearsall noted the company expects to add more flights that it will announce this fall, and that the move from charter service for professional and college sports teams and others is part of the company’s planned growth.
Elite’s move follows Southwest adding a nonstop Portland to Orlando flight earlier this year.
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