breaking

FedEx Feeder Airline Seeks Regulatory Relief to Maintain Caribbean Routes

Mountain Air Cargo, a North Carolina-based FedEx partner, has petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration for a payload waiver. The airline aims to continue serving Caribbean destinations without service interruption as it transitions from ATR 42 freighters to larger ATR 72 turboprops. Caribbean islands including Aruba, Curacao, and Bonaire exceed the 60-minute overwater limit imposed on scheduled carriers under Part 121 regulations. Mountain Air currently operates ATR 42s under Part 135 rules, which permit extended overwater flights up to three hours. These destinations lie less than 20 miles beyond Part 121 limits but remain accessible under Part 135 parameters. The airline operates 10 ATR 42s, 13 ATR 72 variants, and Cessna 408 SkyCouriers. It provides shuttle service between smaller markets and FedEx network hubs. Caribbean operations, which launched in 2024, face discontinuation without regulatory relief.