US DOT approves WALG's assumption of FWIA's authorities

The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has given the go-ahead for Worldwide Air Logistics Group, a subsidiary of Southern Air Holdings, to take ownership of Florida West International Airways's certificate and other economic authorities. WALG announced plans to acquire FWIA in February of this year as part of its push into the ACMI/charter market.

According to a DOT disclosure, FWIA is permitted to operate scheduled mail and freight flights on interstate routings as well as between the United States and all open-skies countries and certain, select non-open-skies countries. 

The air carrier also holds all-cargo exemption authority between the US and points in Argentina, Brazil, Peru and Venezuela, and between the US and points in Bolivia. 

WALG has indicated that it intends to maintain FWIA as a separate entity to its other interest,Southern Air (9S, Cincinnati Int'l).