Tradewind Aviation
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Airline |
| Founded | 2001 |
| Founder | Eric Zipkin, David Zipkin |
| Headquarters | Oxford, Connecticut , United States |
Area served | Northeast United States, Southeast United States, Caribbean |
| Products | Private and scheduled flight services, aircraft management |
Tradewind Aviation, LLC, doing business as Tradewind Aviation and Tradewind Shuttle, is a U.S.-based airline with its headquarters located at Waterbury-Oxford Airport in Oxford, Connecticut. The company specializes in private and scheduled flight services throughout the Northeast, Southeast, and Caribbean regions, in addition to offering aircraft management solutions. Tradewind is particularly recognized for its seasonal ticket packages from Westchester to Nantucket and its scheduled routes connecting Puerto Rico to St. Barths.
History
Established in 2001 by entrepreneurial brothers Eric and David Zipkin, both licensed pilots, Tradewind commenced operations with a single Cessna Caravan aircraft, focusing on underutilized short-distance routes such as those serving Cape and Islands. The company expanded its charter services across the U.S. and Caribbean territories, obtaining authorization for scheduled flights in 2005 and eventually serving 11 destinations. Domestic departures are exclusively conducted through fixed-base operators (FBOs), whereas Caribbean flights operate from conventional airport terminals. At Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport in San Juan, Tradewind provides upscale amenities including a semi-private lounge catering to passengers traveling to high-end Caribbean locales.
Since 2006, Tradewind has maintained the sole year-round nonstop scheduled connection between the United States and Gustaf III Airport in St. Barthelemy, establishing a unique offering within the luxury travel sector.
In June 2019, Tradewind introduced "Goodspeed," a jet card program presenting fixed one-way pricing on its Pilatus PC-12 fleet within three designated regions: Westchester County (NY), Palm Beach (FL), and San Juan (Caribbean). These jet cards are available in increments of 10, 25, or 40 hours.
A significant fleet enhancement initiative began in March 2022 with a $100 million commitment to acquire 20 new Pilatus PC-12 NGX aircraft. This move solidifies Tradewind's status as the largest global operator of PC-12s available for charter. Delivery of these aircraft is planned at a rate of three to four units annually through 2027.
In October 2022, Tradewind inaugurated a new operational base at Hudson Valley Regional Airport near Poughkeepsie, NY, expanding hangar space to support both internal activities and open-market charters. Following this, September 2023 saw the launch of another hub at Witham Field in Stuart, Florida, aimed at capturing growth opportunities within the Southeastern market.
Looking forward, Tradewind has announced plans for December 2024 to commence scheduled flights from Palm Beach, Florida to Marsh Harbour and North Eleuthera in the Bahamas' Abaco Islands region, further extending its presence in the Caribbean.
Since 2021, Tradewind has consistently ranked among the top American airlines in the Condé Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards, advancing from fifth place to third by 2023 before settling at fourth place in 2024.
Currently, Tradewind stands as the second-largest operator of Pilatus PC-12 aircraft within the United States, holds the distinction as the largest global scheduled airline operator of PC-12s, and ranks among the leading worldwide charter providers for this aircraft type.
Destinations
| Country | State/Territory | Destination |
|---|---|---|
| Antigua and Barbuda | Antigua | |
| Bahamas | Marsh Harbour | |
| North Eleuthera | ||
| France | Saint Barthélemy | Saint-Jean |
| United States | Massachusetts | Martha's Vineyard |
| Nantucket | ||
| New Jersey | Teterboro | |
| New York | White Plains | |
| Florida | Palm Beach | |
| Puerto Rico | San Juan | |
| U.S. Virgin Islands | St. Thomas | |
| United Kingdom | Anguilla | Anguilla |
| British Virgin Islands | Virgin Gorda | |
| Tortola | ||
Fleet
Tradewind Aviation operates a fleet consisting of 34 aircraft, predominantly Pilatus PC-12 models. The company has placed orders for 11 additional PC-12 NGX planes to enhance its regional and charter flight offerings.
| Aircraft | Current Fleet | Pending Orders |
|---|---|---|
| Pilatus PC-12/45 | 6 | 0 |
| Pilatus PC-12/47 | 1 | 0 |
| Pilatus PC-12 NG | 13 | 0 |
| Pilatus PC-12 NGX | 14 | 11 |
| Aircraft | Year Introduced | Year Retired |
|---|---|---|
| Cessna 208B Grand Caravan | 2001 | 2013 |
| Cessna Citation CJ3 | 2007 | 2024 |