What Happened To Twin Otter Operator Air New England?

Headquartered at Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), Air New England began life in 1970 as a small commuter airline serving Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Based in Hyannis, the airline operated a small fleet of de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter and Fairchild Hiller FH-227 turboprop aircraft connecting Cape Cod with Boston Logan Airport (BOS) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) in Queens, New York.

Air New England flew the Beech 99 in its early years. Photo: James via Flickr.

After a year of operations, the airline expanded, adding a DC-3 aircraft and more Twin Otters and Beech 99 turboprops. By 1974, Air New England had expanded, adding flights to and from Maine, upstate New York, and Vermont while adding Convair 580 turboprops to replace the DC-3s and Beech 99s.

Deregulation killed Air New England

In 1979, Air New England expanded further, adding Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) and Cleveland Hopkins International Airport (CLE) to its list of destinations.

As the new decade approached, it was evident that the airline would not survive. The writing was on the wall as the effects of airline deregulation began to materialize.

On October 31, 1981, Air New England cited "intolerable financial losses" caused by stiff competition, a lack of federal subsidies, cumulative expenses, and a decrease in revenue. At the time, Air New England had grown at such a rate it had 400 employees.

N227SA_DHC-6_Twin_Otter_All_White_Colours_(8980375128)

Air New England had ten DHC-6 Twin Otters. Photo: aeroprints.com via Wikimedia Commons.

Because it flew some routes deemed as being an "Essential Air Service," it depended on $6.1 million in federal subsidies to cover its operating costs. During its 12-year tenure, Air New England had one of the best safety records of any airline in the United States. The only incident involving an Air New England aircraft occurred on June 17, 1979, when a de Havilland Twin Otter aircraft crashed while approaching Barnstable Municipal Airport (HYA) in Hyannis, killing the pilot.