Sunshine Skies Historic Commuter Airlines of Florida and Georgia, written by David P. Henderson

CAPE AIR

Cape Air is one of the last great independent commuter airlines, operating a massive fleet of Cessna 402s across Florida, New England, the midwest, the mid-Atlantic and the Caribbean. ATR 42s are also flown in Micronesia.

The company began flying in 1989 between Provincetown and Boston, filling the void left by the demise of the legendary PBA. The airline quickly expanded into other former PBA markets across Cape Cod and moved into south Florida in 1993. Cape Air is now the largest independent regional airline in the United States.

This has to be one of the most spectacular paint jobs to ever adorn an airliner! Nicknamed the "Fantasy Flyer", it displays the flag of the Conch Republic, Captain Tony, parrots, underwater life and more. Click the photo for the hi-res version. Photo courtesy of Cape Air.

The other side of the aircraft features a fantastic portrait of Ernest Hemingway. The man in the doorway is the renowned artist Jürek who also painted several other aircraft for Cape Air. Check out jürek-art.com to see more of his great work.

Cape Air Fantasy Flyer and famed artist Jurek

Cape Air Fantasy Flyer and famed artist Jurek

Cape Air's Florida route map from 2000. Key West - Ft. Myers is the sole route currently operated in Florida.

Route map of Cape Air.

Cape Air timetable from October 2000 showing a Cessna 402 (photoshopped) over the Bahia Honda bridge in the Florida Keys.

Cape Air timetable from 2000.

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For additonal images visit the Cape Air page at Timetable Images.