SINCE OPENING AN ATLANTA OFFICE LAST YEAR, FINE AIRLINES INC., MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT’S LARGEST INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT CARRIER TO LATIN AMERICA IN 1995, HAS QUIETLY BEEN EXPLORING OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED BY THE GROWTH OF TRADE BETWEEN GEORGIA AND ELSEWHERE IN THE SOUTHEAST WITH COUNTRIES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA.

ACCORDING TO STATISTICS PROVIDED BY THE DADE COUNTY AVIATION DEPARTMENT, FINE AIRLINES ACCOUNTED FOR 10% OF THE TOTAL FREIGHT CARRIED BY ALL AIRLINES OPERATING OUT OF THE MIAMI AIRPORT LAST YEAR.  IT HAS DESTINATIONS IN MORE THAN 20 CARIBBEAN, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICAN CITIES.

CURRENTLY, THE AIRLINE CARRIES CARGO FROM ATLANTA TO MIAMI BY TRUCK IN WHAT KATHLEEN HEASLEY, FINE AIRLINE’S SOUTHEAST REGIONAL MANAGER AT HARTSFIELD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, CALLS “SAME  DAY TRUCK AND AIR SERVICE.”  SOME EXPORT BOUND GOODS ARE FLOWN TO MIAMI FOR FINE AIRLINES BY LOCAL CARRIERS. 

“WE’RE LOOKING AT ATLANTA AS A FANTASTIC EXPORT AND IMPORT GATEWAY LINKING ALABAMA, GEORGIA, NORTH AND SOUTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE AND MISSISSIPPI TO KEY CITIES IN THE NAFTA DEVELOPMENT OF LATIN AMERICA,” SHE TOLD GLOBALFAX DURING AN INTERVIEW IN HER OFFICE AT THE AIRPORT’S NORTH CARGO BUILDING.  AND SHE ADDED THAT THE AIRLINE WILL SEEK TO EXPAND ITS OPERATIONS HERE BEYOND THOSE OF A SALES OFFICE WITH ITS CURRENT STAFF OF TWO PEOPLE.

AT THE MOMENT, MS. HEASLEY HAS INCLUDED IN HER ACTIVITIES VISITS TO LOCAL FREIGHT FORWARDERS, SHIPPERS AND COMPANIES TO ASSIST THEM WITH MASTERING THE REGULATIONS INVOLVED IN ENTERING LATIN AMERICAN MARKETS.

FINE AIRLINES IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND OPERATED BY FATHER AND SON, J. FRANK FINE AND BARRY H. FINE.  ITS DEVELOPMENT BEGAN MORE THAN 40 YEARS AGO WHEN FRANK FINE BOUGHT FRESH PRODUCE FROM FARMS THROUGHOUT THE CARIBBEAN, MEXICO AND THE SOUTHEAST U.S. AND LEASED TRUCKS, SHIPS AND AIRCRAFT TO TRANSPORT HIS PRODUCE TO PROCESSING PLANTS.  IN 1992, FINE AIRLINES WAS CERTIFIED AS AN AIR CARGO CARRIER BY THE FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AND THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL KATHLEEN HEASLEY AT (404) 767-6606; FAX, (404) 767-0988.