Orlando-s. Fla. air service set to begin Jan. 7

Business and leisure travelers flying between Central and South Florida will have another option in the newyear.

Silver Airways announced new service Tuesday between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando starting Jan. 7. The move targets a gap left by Southwest Airlines, which is discontinuing the route as of Jan. 5.

“We sawanopportunity,” said Dave Querio, Silver’s chief operating officer.

Silver will havethreeflights mostdays from Fort Lauderdale to Orlando, with northbound departures at 7:30 a.m., 1:15 p.m. and 4:15 p.m., according to a published schedule.

Southwest spokeswoman Michelle Agnew confirmed Tuesday the carrier still plans to end its daily nonstop flights between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando in January. The only other carrier that currently offers direct service between the two destinations is Spirit Airlines, with two daily nonstop flights, according to Fort Lauderdale airport officials.

Silver also announced Tuesday plans for new service between West Palm Beach and Tampa to help boost its intra-state network. The company will operate its Saab 340Bplus fuel-efficient aircraft on the new Florida routes.

With 428 flights a week serving 12 routes and connecting to 10 gateways, Silver — formerly Gulfstream International Airlines — is the largest intra-state carrier in Florida, company officials said.