Aztec Airways

What Aztec Airways does

Aztec Airways (legal entity Aztec Worldwide Airlines Inc.) is a privately held boutique commuter and charter airline founded in 1998 by Stuart Hanley. The company operates scheduled flights from a dedicated private terminal at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) to Bahamian Out Islands including Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco, Bimini, Andros, and the Berry Islands, with flight times of 30–90 minutes. It also offers private charters to over 100 destinations across the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Southeast United States, and dedicated cargo services (scheduled and charter) using a mixed fleet of Piper Chieftain (9-seat passenger), Beech Super 18, and Cessna Caravan 208B aircraft. The fleet, crew, and regulatory certifications (including U.S. Department of Homeland Security Visa Waiver Program signatory status) underpin both scheduled and on-demand operations.

The company operates a hybrid direct-to-consumer and inside-sales go-to-market motion. Scheduled passengers book via the company's website (aztecairways.com) and customer portal (flyaztec.com), while charter, cargo, and day-tour sales are handled by phone or dedicated email through specialized sales representatives. Revenue is generated from transactional flight and charter fees, subscription-style IslandPass bundles of 10–40 prepaid flights at $2,900–$8,930 (valid one year, transferable, no blackout dates), ancillary fees (baggage, pet transport, changes, unaccompanied minors), and affiliate commissions from partner hotels (Tru by Hilton, Wyndham, Holiday Inn Express) and on-site Enterprise Rent-A-Car rentals at a 10% discount.

Customer segments center on leisure travelers to the Bahamian Out Islands, second-home owners and island commuters (primary IslandPass users), pet owners served by cabin pet accommodations with seat removal for large pets, and cargo shippers served via a global partner network including TWINEX and HAEO. The company employs 11–50 people under a founder-led structure with Stuart Hanley as CEO, and is supported by a director-level leadership team spanning operations, cargo sales, and marketing. Following the June 2024 relocation to the FLL private terminal, Aztec has expanded route frequency (Marsh Harbour daily in June 2025, Eleuthera daily in July 2025) and added net-new routes (Exuma in November 2025), positioning itself as a scaled specialist in private-terminal Bahamas service from South Florida.

Name

Aztec Airways

Legal name

Aztec Worldwide Airlines Inc.

Website

https://aztecairways.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Aztec Airways is a privately held boutique airline operating a private terminal at Fort Lauderdale International Airport with scheduled and charter flights, plus cargo services, to Bahamian Out Islands and the broader Caribbean. It primarily serves leisure travelers, second-home owners, island commuters, and cargo shippers in the South Florida–Bahamas corridor.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Boutique Commuter Airline Services

NAICS

Air Transportation (481), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation (481212)

SIC

Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512), Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYTHABACAL

Island & Remote Region Regional Airlines

Travel & Hospitality/Airlines & Air Travel/Regional & Commuter Airlines

SECONDARYTLADAAAN

Regional / Feeder Air Cargo Carriers

Transportation & Logistics/Freight Transportation (Air, Maritime, Rail, Trucking)/Air Freight Carriers (Scheduled & Charter)

Keywords

• Scheduled passenger flights
• Private charter aviation
• Air cargo services
• Florida-Bahamas air travel
• Boutique commuter airline

Headquarters

HQ city

Fort Lauderdale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Scheduled Passenger Flights: Round-trip and one-way scheduled flights from Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Bahamian destinations including Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco, Bimini, Andros, and Berry Islands. Revenue generated from ticket sales with pricing based on destination and flight type.
2. Private Charter Services: Custom charter flights to destinations beyond scheduled routes across the Bahamas, Caribbean, and Southeast United States. Customers choose aircraft, dates, and destinations with personalized service.
3. Island Pass Program: Prepaid flight bundles of 10, 20, 30, or 40 flights at discounted rates for frequent travelers. Valid for one year with no blackout dates (except locked-in holiday periods). Transferable to designated recipients.
4. Cargo Services: Scheduled cargo and charter cargo services to Bahamas and worldwide destinations. Includes cargo receiving, documentation, and shipment handling through partners like TWINEX.
5. Ancillary Services: Baggage fees (over 35 lbs), pet transport fees, pet fees varying by weight, excess baggage, oversized/irregular items, surfboard transport, change/cancellation fees, and Unaccompanied Minor fees.
6. Partner Commissions - Car Rentals: Commission revenue from Enterprise Rent-A-Car partnership with 10% discount offered to passengers booking through Aztec Airways portal.
7. Hotel and Shuttle Partnerships: Partnership commissions from hotel bookings (Tru by Hilton, Wyndham, Holiday Inn Express) with discounted rates for Aztec passengers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Aztec Airways operates scheduled passenger flights, private charter services, and air cargo transport from a private terminal at Fort Lauderdale International Airport to Bahamian Out Islands and worldwide destinations. The airline offers direct flights to Eleuthera, Exuma, Abaco, Bimini, Andros, and Berry Islands, with charter services extending to hundreds of Caribbean and Southeast US destinations. The IslandPass subscription program provides prepaid multi-flight bundles for frequent travelers, while cargo operations utilize Beech Super 18 and Cessna Caravan aircraft for shipments to over 100 destinations worldwide.

Product overview

Aztec Airways is a boutique airline operating a dual-platform model offering scheduled commuter flights and private charter services from its private terminal at Fort Lauderdale International Airport (FLL) to destinations across the Bahamas. The scheduled flights core product serves multiple Out Island routes (Eleuthera, Abaco, Bimini, Andros, Berry Islands, Exuma) with TSA-free boarding and complimentary parking. The private charters product extends access to hundreds of destinations across the Bahamas and Caribbean. Supporting these passenger services are cargo operations using Beech Super 18 and Cessna Caravan aircraft for scheduled and charter cargo transport. The IslandPass subscription program provides discounted multi-flight bundles for frequent travelers. Day tours and excursions round out the service portfolio as a supplementary offering.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Scheduled Flights
• Private Charters
• IslandPass
• Scheduled Cargo Services
• Cargo Charter Services
• Global Cargo Solutions
• Day Tours and Excursions

Quantifiable outcome

• Hundreds of passengers served in first year at FLL private terminal
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Enterprise Rent-A-CarcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerAztec Airways partnered with Enterprise Rent-A-Car for on-site vehicle pickup and drop-off at the terminal. Customers receive 10% discount on rentals. Location code 41g3 for booking. On-site access eliminates shuttle, counters, and waiting.
• Sheltair AviationcoreTechnology or IntegrationSheltair operates the FBO (Fixed Base Operator) handling General Aviation Customs at FLL, a short 5-minute drive from Aztec terminal. Provides private customs processing for arriving passengers.
• Tru by HiltonminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner hotel offering Aztec passengers discounted room rates starting at $99/night with free shuttle service to/from terminal. Located at 44 N Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL.
• Wyndham Hotels & Resorts (Dania Beach)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner hotel offering Aztec passengers discounted rates and complementary airport shuttle service. Located at 129 N Federal Hwy, Dania Beach, FL.
• Holiday Inn Express (Fort Lauderdale)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner hotel offering discounted rates for Aztec passengers. Located at 1500 SE 17th St Cswy, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.
• TWINEXcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCargo receiving agent located at Aztec's hangar facilities at 1849 NW 38th AVE, Lauderdale Hill, FL 33311. Handles cargo receiving, documentation, and shipment coordination. Also partners for combined passenger/cargo flights to Eleuthera.
• GoAirport ShuttleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShuttle service partner for airport transportation. Available for passengers arriving at FLL needing ground transport to Aztec terminal.
• Super Shuttle ExpressminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShuttle service partner for Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Alternative ground transportation option.
• Starr Insurance CompaniesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended travel insurance provider. Customer service at 866-477-6741 or [email protected]. Aztec provides link as convenience for travelers.
• HAEO (Global Cargo Solutions)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal cargo partner network for worldwide shipping solutions. Handles cargo tracking and international shipments. Contact: [email protected], [email protected].
• White Crown AviationcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerFBO partner at North Eleuthera Airport (MYEH) handling arrivals and departures for Aztec passengers traveling to Eleuthera.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Bahamasair: Bahamas' national flag carrier, operating scheduled passenger and cargo flights from Florida (including Fort Lauderdale/Nassau) to Out Island destinations. Direct head-to-head competitor on routes Aztec serves such as Eleuthera, Exuma, and Abaco.
• Western Air: Bahamian regional airline operating scheduled and charter flights between Florida, Nassau, and the Out Islands with twin-engine aircraft. Closely comparable business model to Aztec on Florida-Bahamas scheduled/charter service.
• Silver Airways: U.S.-based regional carrier operating turboprop scheduled service from Florida to the Bahamas and Caribbean. Most directly comparable as a scheduled regional airline serving similar Florida-Bahamas/Caribbean routes with similar aircraft types.
• Tropic Ocean Airways: U.S. seaplane/charter operator serving Florida-Bahamas routes with private terminal experience. Comparable boutique positioning targeting leisure and second-home owners traveling between South Florida and Bahamian destinations.
• Watermakers Air: Florida-based seaplane operator offering scheduled and charter service from Fort Lauderdale to the Bahamas with private terminal-style experience. Highly comparable on GTM (private terminal, no TSA-style experience, Bahamas leisure) and customer overlap.
• Sky Bahamas: Bahamian airline operating scheduled and charter flights connecting Florida, Nassau, and Out Islands including Exuma, Abaco, and Eleuthera. Direct competitor on Aztec's core Florida-Bahamas scheduled routes.
• Pineapple Air: Bahamas-based commuter/charter carrier serving Out Island destinations from Florida with small twin-engine aircraft. Direct niche competitor with overlapping Bahamian Out Island route network.
• Southern Air Charter: Bahamian charter operator providing on-demand and scheduled small-aircraft flights to remote Bahamian islands. Comparable charter business model targeting similar Out Island leisure and resident customers.

Regional players

• InterCaribbean Airways: Jamaica-based regional carrier serving Caribbean island destinations including the Bahamas. Comparable regional twin-engine fleet and island-hopping business model, though primarily operates in the eastern Caribbean rather than FLL-Bahamas corridor.
• Flamingo Air: Florida-based charter/scheduled operator with Bahamas routes. Comparable small-fleet Florida-Bahamas scheduled/charter model, though smaller scale and different geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/aztecairways
• Facebookfacebook.com/AztecAirways
• Instagraminstagram.com/aztecairways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aztecairways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Aztec Airways