Baltia Air Lines Inc (OTCMKTS:BLTA) Getting Ready To Fly

Baltia Air Lines Inc (OTCMKTS:BLTA) is one name that's gotten a lot of attention on the OTC markets. It's not often that investors get a chance to buy shares in America's newest air line for under a penny. Investors are now just waiting as BLTA undergoes FAA Air Carrier Certification. BLTA is now in stage 3, which is a lot further along than other startup air lines.Baltia’s goal is to become the leading U.S. airline in the trans-Atlantic market between the U.S. and the capital cities of Eastern Europe, including Russia, Latvia, Ukraine, and Belarus, by providing quality service to the traveler and the shipper. The air line plans to start flight operations as the only U.S. airline connecting New York and St. Petersburg (4th largest city in Europe). Baltia’s objective is to provide three-class passenger service, reliable cargo and mail transportation, and to provide “Baltia Express” overnight service for express mail and small packages. On the JFK-St. Petersburg route, management is projecting revenues for year one of operations of approximately $100 million at a projected 64% load factor (filed with the U.S. DOT).Baltia’s nonstop service from JFK to St. Petersburg will be approximately 8 hours, as compared to European connecting flights on foreign airlines taking 11 to 30 hours. Only a U.S. airline (as well as a reciprocal Russian carrier) is entitled to fly nonstop between the two nations. “Third nation” airlines that are currently serving the market can only operate connecting flights via their national airports.Management believes that the shortened flight time, elimination of a wait at layover, elimination of the possibility of missing a connecting flight, plus quality passenger service provided by a U.S. airline, will attract the business traveler, the ethnic traveler, and the high-end tourist. Likewise, cargo is flown directly, efficiently and reliably. During years one and two, Baltia plans to add airplanes and start nonstop service on routes from JFK to Moscow, Riga, Kiev and Minsk.

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The company received some bad news earlier this month when its founder and CEO Igor Dmitrowsky had passed away. While his vision will not be forgotten, the company is in good hands. The company appointed Russel K. Thal as its President and Chairman of the Board. In addition to Mr. Thal's appointment, Barry Clare and Frank Acquavella have been appointed to the Board of Directors. Thal has served as Baltia's Executive Vice President since 2004. He has over 50 years of experience in business management and aviation technology and was Director of Operations, and Liaison for Military Airlift Command for Seaboard World Airlines, and Director of Stations for New York Air. He also founded Compuflight (acquired by Navtech) and served as Chairman of Navtech from 1997 to 2001.We expect things to continue running smoothly at Baltia and that appears to be the case. BLTA seems to be quickly moving through Phase III of the FAA Air Carrier Certification entered into on October 10. Phase III consists of the Table Top Exercise, Mini-Evacuation Demonstration, and Proving Flights.While no one knows for sure when Baltia will get FAA approval, one person that believes it will happen and possibly knows something is Vick Luis Bolanos. On January 12th, he bought 40 million shares and on January 14th he purchased 125 million. He now owns roughly 700 million shares, or about 10% of the company. We at Insider Financial always like to see insider buying and this is very positive in our opinion.

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Currently trading with an $11.5 million market cap, BLTA has been beaten down due to delays in getting FAA approval. Many shareholders bailed out instead of waiting and the shorts have taken advantage of the situation. However, we think things are getting close. We've heard rumors that we might know something in February or March. We at Insider Financial are looking into these rumors and looking for confirmation. Be sure to sign up to Insider Financial today as we will be updating our subscribers as soon as we know something on BLTA!

Disclosure: We have no position in BLTA either long or short. We have not been compensated for this article.