Seaborne Airlines (“Seaborne”) has entered into an agreement to purchase its first De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft and, in parallel, the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with CAVU Aviation Finance to acquire and finance up to three additional Twin Otter aircrafts in Puerto Rico. With this step, the airline, the world’s only seaplane operator certified under FAR Part 121, is accelerating its growth across the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Caribbean, marking the strong return of a Puerto Rican-rooted airline to its historic role as a regional connector.
The Twin Otter, with 19 seats and excellent STOL performance for short takeoffs and landings, is ideal for Seaborne’s mission to safely and consistently connect island communities, thereby supporting tourism, business, and essential travel. This move reignites the Caribbean air bridge, with more frequency, greater operational resilience, and better connections among the islands we call home.
“This announcement of our agreement to purchase a first aircraft and the LOI for three more is the fuel to reignite the Caribbean air bridge. With over 50 years building national airlines, I want Puerto Rico to know that Seaborne is here to stay and will once again be the airline everyone talks about across the Caribbean for its reliability and island hospitality,” said Darrell Richardson, President and CEO of Seaborne Airlines.
“This step is aligned with what we presented to Governor Jenniffer Gonzalez last month and with our shared vision to expand tourism and return Seaborne to its heyday as the Caribbean’s leading regional airline. We applaud her administration’s support for Puerto Rico’s expansion and economic development, and we reaffirm our commitment to responsible growth and service to our communities,” said Oskar Kowalski and Meir Hurwitz, partners at Seaborne.
On the financing side, CAVU Aviation Finance reaffirmed its support for this renewal phase. “We are excited to partner with Seaborne in this stage of growth and return. Their operational focus and leadership align with our mission to support visionary airlines in achieving sustained success. We will stand with Seaborne as it continues to offer exceptional service in the region,” said Matthew Lorentzen, President and Managing Partner of CAVU Aviation Finance LLC.
Before this new chapter, Seaborne was for decades the Caribbean’s most emblematic harbor-to-harbor seaplane service, operating Twin Otters under FAR Part 121 certification with scheduled departures from St. Thomas and St. Croix, connecting residents, visitors, and businesses. Its operation has been a vital bridge for the regional economy and emergency response, recognized for its experienced crews, commitment to safety, and warm island hospitality.
Seaborne plans to deploy the additional aircraft on high-demand inter-island routes to deepen schedules, increase operational resilience, and selectively grow its network. Route assignments and entry-into-service dates will be announced following the execution of definitive agreements, and the transaction remains subject to such execution and regulatory approvals.
