The airline was established by C.A. Southerland and Steve Adams in 1989 as the first commercial airline offering direct service from the US to Cap-Haïtien, on the north coast of Haiti. Lynx Air International had at its peak 117 full-time employees in five countries (April 2008), and operated scheduled service to 7 destinations in the Bahamas, as well as Cap-Haïtien, Haiti and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Lynx also served Jamaica, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Dominican Republic, from both Fort Lauderdale and Miami International Airports.
Lynx was initially certified by the FAA as a Part 135 airline, and then achieved Part 121 certification in May 1997. Lynx suspended airline operations in July 2009, just over 20 years from the date of its first flight, May 5, 1989.
The various Bahamian islands that Lynx served over the years of its existence were:
South Andros/Congotown - Andros Island
Andros Town/Fresh Creek - Andros Island
San Andros - Andros Island
South Bimini - Bimini
North Eleuthera - Eleuthera
Governour's Harbour - Eleuthera
Georgetown - Exuma
New Bight - Cat Island
Lynx was the only direct air service from the US to Congo Town and San Andros.
During the entire time of its existence Lynx provided the only continuously operating direct air service from the US to Cap-Haïtien, and dominated the market, operating numerous flights to and from both Fort Lauderdale and Miami. Lynx also offered direct scheduled service between Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the US Naval Base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, serving the numerous contractors that lived and worked there on behalf of the US government.
In addition to passenger service, Lynx had a strong express freight and private (subscription) mail service, mainly to the residents of Cap-Haïtien, Haiti and gave credit for its many years of success to having diverse revenue streams, not depending solely on passenger traffic for its existence. The Metro turboprop aircraft that Lynx initially operated were capable of reconfiguring in a "Combi" configuration and many times Lynx would utilize the aircraft in a cargo or combi configuration for one leg of a flight, then reinstall passenger seating for the return leg, maximizing utilization and revenue.
Fleet
Lynx Air International Swearingen Merlin
During its existence, and after a merger with Florida Coastal Airlines that took place in 2008, Lynx Air operated a variety of aircraft, including Cessna 402's, DC-3, Piper Aztec, and Metro III and Saab 340 turboprops.
Historical fleet
Lynx Air International previously operated the following aircraft:[2]