Had Hoped To Establish Commercial Flights Out Of Lakeland Linder Regional Airport

Plans for a commercial service from Lakeland (FL) Linder Regional Airport have been scrapped as Miami-based Falcon Air has voluntarily surrendered the air carrier certificate for Falcon Air Express to the FAA and makes plans to file for bankruptcy.

The Lakeland Ledger reports that the letter, dated June 5, was hand delivered to the FAA. In it, airline president Nelson Ramiz Sr. wrote, "We are voluntarily surrendering (the air carrier certificate) without malice or requirement by the FAA to do so. The effective date is June 5, 2015."

The company would be dissolved, Ramiz told the FAA.

Lakeland City Manager Doug Thomas had discussions with elected officials about a possible deal back in April, but the city commission said the deal was too tentative, and did not make any agreements with the company. The paper reports that Falcon Air is also involved in several lawsuits brought by former employees, who have charged violations of the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, sexual harassment, and other complaints.

But perhaps the death knell for the service was the loss of a large government contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. At least one of the company's MD-83 airplanes was repossessed while on the ramp at Lakeland. 

The Curacao Chronicle newspaper reported Monday that Ramiz had blamed his decision to close Falcon Air on a messy divorce. The paper reported that the company had laid off most of its employees and was making plans for a bankruptcy filing.

Falcon Air Express was a charter airline that had contracts with the federal government and sports teams, and provided "wet leases" for other airlines.

FMI: www.faa.gov