Tryp air charter adds 2nd Lakeland-based aircraft as its expansion continues

Paul Nutcher, The Ledger
·2 min read
Elliot Mintzer, president of TRYP Air Charter, a private air charter business, and first officer Mark Poe do a pre flight check on Pilatus passenger jet operating out of Lakeland Linder Airport in March 2021. The company recently added a second plane in Lakeland and has another based in Plant City.
Elliot Mintzer, president of TRYP Air Charter, a private air charter business, and first officer Mark Poe do a pre flight check on Pilatus passenger jet operating out of Lakeland Linder Airport in March 2021. The company recently added a second plane in Lakeland and has another based in Plant City.

TRYP Air Charter has added another aircraft to its Pilatus charter fleet at Lakeland Linder International Airport, a company news release said.

The new aircraft is a Pilatus PC12-NG single engine turbo prop, which has one of the best safety ratings in its class and can easily handle individuals or small groups, said TRYP in the Feb. 7 release.

The aircraft cruises above weather at 28,000 feet and at a speed of 300 mph. The Pilatus PC12-NG has seating for six passengers, room for cargo and AirText available for passengers to stay connected to the Internet during flights. The interior cabin has BMW-designed custom seating plus a full lavatory.

TRYP flies passengers out of the private terminal operated by Sheltair at the Lakeland airport. Though the charter has been around since 1979, it was purchased in recent years by its current president, Elliot Mintzer, 56, of Plant City and incorporated in Florida in January 2020.

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The new airplane in Lakeland is the third aircraft in the charter company’s fleet. On Nov. 22, TRYP announced it had added a Pilatus PC12 turbo prop aircraft at the Plant City airport.

The company says it has experienced high demand for its charter services in Florida, which led to the expansion of the fleet.

"Private air service has grown tremendously over the last few years and we are very fortunate to be located in central Florida and be part of the growth,” Mintzer said in the release. “The demand has not slowed down for air charter services, and we are fortunate to be able to meet that demand by adding another best-in-class aircraft like the Pilatus PC12 NG," he said.

The aircraft has a 1,500-mile range and can fly to locations in the Bahamas or to the Northeast. The PC12 NG aircraft will be flying to the Bahamas, Key West, Nashville, Atlanta and the entire eastern seaboard and Midwest. It can access runways inaccessible to some jet aircraft, so it can fly into smaller, regional airports.

A November 2022 report by Technavio showed the charter air service industry globally is expected to grow annually by 5.37% from 2023 to 2027.

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Tryp charter airline adds second aircraft based at Lakeland Linder