Jamaica Air Shuttle, the new domestic airline will expand its passenger fleet to four Beech 99 turbo-prop aircraft by early next year to accomodate travel within the island.

Its third Beech 99 is currently undergoing maintenance at Tinson Pen Aerodrome in Kingston, for certification and registration under the Jamaica Civil Aviation regulations.

Christopher Read, Jamaica Air Shuttle’s Managing Director, said that the aircraft should be “in full commercial service by the third week of January, when it will join two other Beech 99s in service on the Tinson Pen to Montego Bay route”.

Jamaica Air Shuttle will take delivery of a fourth Beechcraft aircraft within three weeks. This will be used to expand the company’s regular operations to Boscobel in St Mary; and to operate charters to all airports and aerodromes on the island including Norman Manley in Kingston, Negril and Port Antonio.

The third aircraft Read said would “be operating in time to cater to patrons of the Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival…from the 24th to the 30th January 2010”.

The introduction of Jamaica Air Shuttle which started in November came four months after Skylan Airways — began offering domestic airline services between Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston and Montego Bay’s Sangster International Airport. However, the development of Jamaica Air Shuttle will mark the reintroduction of regular passenger air services at the Tinson Pen Aerodrome, which has been without such service for the past several years.

Jamaica Air Shuttle will operate three 14-seater twin turbo-prop Beech 99 aircraft. The company said in a press release on Friday that “The airline will operate at least 31 ‘on demand’ round-trip services per week between Tinson Pen and Montego Bay in the initial phase of its operations,” adding that “increases in frequency on that route and expansion to Boscobel, Negril and Port Antonio are planned.”

The flight time from Tinson Pen to Montego Bay in the Beech 99 will be 23 minutes, the company added.

According to Read, the airline was established in response to “persistent calls” by the local business community, professional and tourism interests for the re-introduction of “dedicated” domestic passenger service, particularly between Tinson Pen and Montego Bay.