Florida's Orange Air cancels relaunch plans

Orange Air (Orlando Sanford) has had its certificates of public convenience and necessity cancelled by the US Department of Transportation (DOT), after the DOT was informed by the airline that it had surrendered its Air Carrier Certificate.

The Florida-based airline suspended all revenue flights in 2016. It entered discussions with charter carrier World Atlantic Airlines (WL, Miami Int'l), about potential financial support for a restructure and a possible acquisition. Orange then advised the DOT in March 2017 that it planned to resume operations "perhaps within weeks".

However, in May 2017, Orange informed the DOT that it would not object if the Department waived the one-year dormancy requirement and cancelled Orange's certificates immediately. Accordingly, the DOT did so.

Prior to its shutdown, Orange provided both charter and scheduled flights, and operated a scheduled service between Cincinnati Int'l, Branson, New Orleans Int'l and Cancún with a fleet of one MD-82 and one MD-83 on behalf of Branson Air Express (1X, Branson).