PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – (July 8, 2013) – Sunrise Airways (IATA: S6), a new start-up airline based in Port-au-Prince, announced today that it has gained membership in the prestigious Flight Safety Foundation (FSF), becoming the first Haitian airline ever to do so.
Founded in 1947, FSF is an international non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to provide impartial, independent, expert safety guidance and resources for the aviation and aerospace industry. FSF works closely with its more than 1,000 member airlines in 150 countries worldwide to identify global safety issues, set priorities and serve as a catalyst to address safety issues through data collection and information sharing, education, advocacy and communications.
“Membership in the Flight Safety Foundation is a proud and significant step forward, not just for Sunrise Airways, but also for aviation in Haiti in general,” said Philippe Bayard, President of Sunrise Airways. “This helps to validate the professional state of our current operation within the country, while also ensuring we meet the highest international safety standards as we expand to new gateways in Jamaica, Turks & Caicos and beyond to connect the Western Caribbean like never before.”
Sunrise currently serves domestic routes within Haiti operating 19-seat Jetstream 32 EP aircraft manufactured by BAE Systems. The carrier plans to expand its route network in 2013, launching new service to Kingston, Jamaica and Providenciales, Turks & Caicos as first steps toward establishing a hub in Port-au-Prince to better serve air travel needs within the Western Caribbean.
About The Flight Safety Foundation (www.flightsafety.org)
The Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) is an independent, non-profit, international organization engaged in research, education, advocacy and publishing to improve aviation safety. The Foundation’s mission is to be the leading voice of safety for the global aerospace community. FSF is based in Alexandria, Virginia, U.S., has a regional office in Melbourne, Australia, and currently has affiliated organizations throughout the world. For more information on FSF, please visit www.flightsafety.org.
About Sunrise Airways (www.SunriseAirways.net)
Sunrise Airways (IATA: S6) is a new Haitian owned commercial airline launched in November 2012 that aims to establish a hub in Port-au-Prince to better serve air travel needs within the Western Caribbean. The airline currently operates daily scheduled passenger service within Haiti, as well as charter service to various gateways throughout the Western Caribbean. New service to Havana and Santiago in Cuba, Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos, and Kingston, Jamaica are planned for 2013. The Sunrise Airways fleet is comprised of four (4) Jetstream 32 EP aircraft offering the comfort of leather seating and ample in-cabin cargo room for a maximum capacity of 19 passengers. Headquartered in Port-au-Prince with a dedicated maintenance facility in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Sunrise Airways is owned by noted Haitian businessman and philanthropist, Philippe Bayard. Members of the airline’s leadership team average more than 15 years of aviation experience with such well-known industry brands as Aerocaribbean, Air Jamaica, BAE Systems, Condor Airlines, Jamaica Air Shuttle, and LAN Airlines.
