Organized at Miami on June 1, 1972 as a subsidiary of the Deltona Corporation. Beginning on October 1, several-times-daily roundtrip frequencies are offered to the parent’s planned resort community on Marco Island with Beech 99s. Over the next 2 years, the 14-passenger commuter planes are replaced by a fleet of 3 Martin 404s; 52,140 passengers are enplaned in 1974.
The workforce in 1975 is 250. Freight traffic reaches 3.01 million ton-kilometers, a 23.4% boost, while passenger boardings advance by 5.2% to 54,583.
A fourth Martin 4-0-4 arrives in 1976. It joins the other 3 in carrying 83,545 pounds of freight and 61,695 passengers, the latter a 23% boost over the previous year.
A total of 65,714 passengers are hauled during 1977. Additionally, Marco Island to Tampa service is inaugurated. Vice President Raymond
L. Anderson, the executive in charge, oversees a workforce of 43. Bookings increase by 1% in 1978 to 66,688.
The Convair fleet is increased by 2 in 1979, but enplanements grow by only 1% to 67,627. Freight is actually down 32.7% to 52,000 pounds.
Despite the addition of contract flights for Air Florida in 1980 to Key West, Georgetown, Rock Sound, Freeport, Eleuthera, Treasure Cay, and Marsh Harbour, bookings for the year decline by 16% to 56,795. Cargo is down by 11.6% to 46,000 pounds.
Airline employment grows in 1981 from 72 to 92. New Air Florida replacement service is inaugurated from Tampa to Lakeland as four Piper PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftains are purchased.
Unfortunately, heavy construction and lack of rooms at the Marco Islands resorts contribute to another 16% traffic decline as 47,876 passengers are carried. Even what little freight is transported is off by 35.8%, down to 30,000 pounds.
En route from Miami to Key West on July 22, 1982, Flight 39, a Martin 4-0-4 with 12 passengers, is taken over by 2 men who divert the plane to Havana. Cuban authorities will send them to prison for 15 years.
Bookings drop off significantly, down 35.7% to 30,804, due primarily to recession. Cargo plunges 83.6% to only 8,000 pounds.
Enplanements advance again in 1983, rising 10% to 33,100. Freight, however, declines again, dropping to 3,000 pounds.
On October 15, 1984, the carrier is purchased by Provincetown-Boston Airline (PBA) and is operated as a subsidiary under its previous name. Prior to the purchase, a total of 33,082 passengers are boarded, a 30% boost; figures for the period after PBA acquisition are included with those of the new parent.
By February 1985, MIA, its routes and aircraft are integrated and service to the Bahamas ceases.
MAR-EL AVIATION: International Airport, Nashville, Tennessee 37217, United States; Phone (615) 361-1007; Fax (615) 361-1090; Http://www. charter-jet. com; Year Founded 1976. Mar-El Aviation is established at Nashville in 1976 to sell general aviation aircraft. During the 1980s, the company enters the charter business, as well as the sale and repair of aircraft components and systems. In 2000, the concern continues to offer Learjet charters worldwide and has branched out into the acquisition and sale of used corporate turbine aircraft.
World History
