Silver Airways Begins Daytona Service With "Tortuga-1"

UPDATE (01-17-19): The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place this morning.

View this post on Instagram

Silver Airways service from Daytona Beach to Fort Lauderdale is officially open

A post shared by WNDB News (@newsdaytonabeach) on Jan 17, 2019 at 5:03am PST

See even more photos and video on the News Daytona Beach Instagram page. Earlier reporting below. Daytona Beach, FL - Today's the day you officially get a new flight option at Daytona Beach International Airport. Silver Airways is expected to touch down at the World's Most Famous Beach tonight (January 16th) in its first direct daily flight from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. The company's first departing flight from DBIA to Fort Lauderdale will be tomorrow morning, an event which will be marked with a ribbon-cutting at the Volusia County-owned airport. Earlier this week, Silver officially unveiled a Daytona Tortugas-themed plane it will use to shuttle passengers from one city to the other.  

https://t.co/ifY5Ax4ovE Check out some fun BTS of #TortugaOne! @daytonatortugas #TurtlesCanFly #SilverAirways

— Silver Airways Pilot Recruiting (@FlyforSilver) January 16, 2019

Speaking to reporters during the plane's unveiling, Tortugas President Ryan Keur says having a plane decked in their team logo and colors is a first for a minor-league baseball franchise.  

WATCH: “With the Tortugas, we say the sky is the limit and with Silver Airways you’ve made that a reality.” Ryan Keur, President of the Daytona Tortugas, officially welcomes Silver Airways. pic.twitter.com/irz4306RWp

— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) January 15, 2019

The plane - known as "Tortuga-1" - is meant to solidify Silver's status as the official airline of the baseball franchise.  

BREAKING: Tortuga-1 is OFFICIALLY pulled from the hangar. #FlySilver #ForThe386 pic.twitter.com/8wggCaf4Xv

— Daytona Tortugas (@daytonatortugas) January 15, 2019

Silver's service became official earlier this week after Federal Aviation Administration officials signed off despite concerns that would not happen because of the ongoing partial federal government shutdown. Volusia County lured Silver to DBIA with an incentives package approved by the County Council last month. Sunwing Airlines - a Toronto-based carrier - also took advantage last year of a county incentives package in exchange for starting direct flights from Toronto to Daytona Beach. Those flights will begin on January 28th.