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AA aircraft lands in VI on test flight

- ahead of official start of direct flights on June 1
According to flight data, the aircraft, an Embraer E175LR, departed Miami at 8:57 AM, May 25, 2023. Photo: Jamoi Watson
The American Airlines aircraft, under the American Eagle brand, on the runway at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport today, May 25, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
The American Airlines aircraft, under the American Eagle brand, on the runway at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport today, May 25, 2023. Photo: Team of Reporters
At 11:31 AM, today, Thursday, May 25, 2023, an American Airlines (AL) aircraft landed at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island as part of a test flight by the airline ahead of officially commencing direct flights from Miami to the [British] Virgin Islands on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Photo: Jamoi Watson
At 11:31 AM, today, Thursday, May 25, 2023, an American Airlines (AL) aircraft landed at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island as part of a test flight by the airline ahead of officially commencing direct flights from Miami to the [British] Virgin Islands on Thursday, June 1, 2023. Photo: Jamoi Watson
TRELLIS BAY, Beef Island, VI- At 11:31 AM, today, Thursday, May 25, 2023, an American Airlines (AL) aircraft landed at Terrance B. Lettsome Airport on Beef Island as part of a test flight by the airline ahead of officially commencing direct flights from Miami to the [British] Virgin Islands on Thursday, June 1, 2023.

According to flight data, the aircraft, an Embraer E175LR, departed Miami at 8:57 AM.

The test flight by American Airlines was announced in April by Minister for Communications and Works Hon Kye M. Rymer (R5), during the recent elections campaign season.

Hon Rymer also recently said AA has reportedly said the demand for flights on the Miami to [British] Virgin Islands route has been so high in the month of June that additional flights have been scheduled by the airline.

Madam Speaker, on June 1st, we will be welcoming guests on that inaugural flight and, Madam Speaker, you know I've gotten approval from American Airlines to announce that the demand is so high that they will be putting on an additional flight on that first day, so we'll have two flights coming in on the 1st of June,” Hon Rymer disclosed at the Swearing-In Ceremony and First Sitting of the First Session of the Fifth House of Assembly (HoA) at Multi-Purpose Sports Complex on May 18, 2023.

According to the Minister, the demand is so high the airline has committed to five additional flights for the month of June, leading to two flights each also on June 2nd, 9th, 16th, and 30th.

The previous National Democratic Party (NDP) administration failed to bring direct flights to the VI and instead ended up losing $7.2M on a botched deal with BVI Airways.

52 Responses to “AA aircraft lands in VI on test flight”

  • 7.2 million (25/05/2023, 12:23) Like (48) Dislike (19) Reply
    Long live the vip
    • Respect Tola Radio.. (25/05/2023, 14:00) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
      They did a good Job of tracking, informing, hyping, from the Sky to landing...Can't give Kye the Big Crown as yet, if will give the Small Prince crown , Lets see if after a year it will still be in operation and doing well..Then I will give him the big King Crown...These things have away of starting off hype and nice then disappear in thin Air..
  • Youth (25/05/2023, 12:31) Like (48) Dislike (0) Reply
    Now this is progress.
  • WOW (25/05/2023, 12:33) Like (38) Dislike (16) Reply
    VIP has done it again. EXCELLENT!!!
  • I wonder (25/05/2023, 12:35) Like (26) Dislike (9) Reply
    I wonder if it cost $7.2million like in NDP time? The only difference here is it is cheaper than $7.2million and it actually landed and is happening. This will help tourism to go to a whole new level.
    • jack (25/05/2023, 13:32) Like (17) Dislike (11) Reply
      how much did the non fishermen and farmers cost and the unoccupied houses on the hill. A bad investment is one thing, but trying to pay to remain in power indefinitely is another.
  • My Take (25/05/2023, 12:36) Like (46) Dislike (3) Reply
    This is what happens when you work as a team.
  • VIP 100+% (25/05/2023, 12:36) Like (29) Dislike (8) Reply
    OOOOOOOO$$$$$$ LANDED 11:31AM THAT THE WAY TOGO HON RYMHER THAT A GOVERMENT WORKING FOR COUNTRY AND PEOPLE KNOT FOR POWER SO NDP PVIM AND PU BACK OFF SHADOW GOVERMENT LET US DO THE PEOPLE WORK
  • hello (25/05/2023, 12:37) Like (27) Dislike (14) Reply
    Let us hear what VIP critics have to say about this now...we are waiting...
    • tTruth be told (25/05/2023, 13:07) Like (17) Dislike (12) Reply
      VINO will never post what the critics have to say
    • @hello (25/05/2023, 14:13) Like (4) Dislike (4) Reply
      I am so waiting for their critics to start the thirsty salty bashing. I LOVE MY VIP TEAM. Ain’t no one, not even family I am going to allow to do any VIP BASHING IN MY PRESENCE. THEY CAN DO IT BEHIND MY BACK BUT NOT IN MY PRESENCE.
  • thank you (25/05/2023, 12:53) Like (29) Dislike (0) Reply
    Thank you to all who made this happen as it takes a holistic effort to accomplish this amazing initiative.
  • Sam (25/05/2023, 12:53) Like (19) Dislike (14) Reply
    Its American Eagle, not AA. Same ole American Eagle that left us high and dry bout 10 yrs ago. Still good nevertheless.
    • @Sam (25/05/2023, 14:22) Like (12) Dislike (2) Reply
      And even if it is, the job got completed. It works in my favor. When I have to fly to Miami, I no longer have to take the ferry to ST.Thomas to get on a direct flight to Miami.
    • Correction (25/05/2023, 20:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      It’s actually Envoy which is a subsidiary of American Airlines and American Eagle is part of the brand.

      Same ones that do the regional flights in the US.

      This is very good. I am happy for the Territory.
  • Disinterested (25/05/2023, 12:55) Like (21) Dislike (13) Reply
    Congrats to Team VIP they got it done and it is poetic justice that Team VIP will be there to welcome the arrival of the nonstop flight. Nevertheless, for the flight to continue, there must sustainable buts in the seats to meet a profitable Passenger Load Factor(PDF). We have not forgotten about the $7, 200,000.00 spent by NDP on BVI Airways. We need a full accounting on the $7,200, 000.00. $7.2M of taxpayers cannot just evaporate in thin air with accountability. $7.2M is real money which could have repaired many potholes, not phantom dollars.
    • @ Disinterested - Dude - (25/05/2023, 14:01) Like (7) Dislike (9) Reply
      its gone. Face it. Drop it. It aint coming back.
      • Disinterested (26/05/2023, 09:28) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        So $7.2M just disappeared in thin air and we must pretend no problem, nothing to see here. This is taxpayers money. Dr. D. Orlando Smith and colleagues, some of whom are still in the HoA and in government, who crafted the scheme are stil alive and well should know the details of what happened with BVI Airways. They may have been outclassed, bamboozled, schooled, etc, in the investigation but we the taxpayers still need to know who the scam artists are. If they don’t what happened or deliberately having amnesia, they should be banned from holding any elected or appointed public office, banned from even driving by the HoA much less serving in. It seems as if VIP was head, shoulders, feet, above NDP in negotiating a nonstop flight deal. Let’s give Jacket his jacket. VIP know what the deal was and NDP did not know pullet from fowl or a$$ from a hole in the ground in regards to negotiating an airlift deal. All them need a cutass in the public square. Their epic, earth shattering failure must become a case study in negotiations.
      • @@Disinterested (26/05/2023, 18:03) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
        @@Dusinterested, it is not about the ghost airline coming back. Rather, it is about a full accounting of taxpayers $7,200,000. For $7.2M much could have gotten done, ie, fixing deteriorated roads, cost living adjustment for the skyrocketing cost of living, etc.
  • DON'T FORGET (25/05/2023, 13:06) Like (22) Dislike (8) Reply
    AA is back in the Caribbean Islands so regardless to which Government in BVI ....We will of get AA.
  • That pilot trembling all now (25/05/2023, 13:09) Like (15) Dislike (26) Reply
    Them should hire Brathwaite's son because that landing looks scary
    • @That pilot trembling all now (25/05/2023, 14:55) Like (4) Dislike (6) Reply
      You are pass stupid. What landing looks scary?
  • Agreeable One (25/05/2023, 13:18) Like (35) Dislike (10) Reply
    I miss those days of Lavity Stoutt when the day after elections the whole country came together as one. This is a big day for this country. Let us all celebrate as it is a benefit to ALL of us. Well done BVI!
    • @Agreeable One (25/05/2023, 14:29) Like (5) Dislike (4) Reply
      Oh please...you all did not know the real Lavity as it was no different to now.
  • VOTER6BVI (25/05/2023, 13:31) Like (14) Dislike (4) Reply
    THIS IS WHAT PROGRESS LOOKS LIKE. VIP ALL THE WAY. LORNA WILL IN OUR CORNER FOR A LONG TIME. GOD BLESS THE VIP AND THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.
  • infrasture... (25/05/2023, 13:43) Like (11) Dislike (6) Reply
    great news on successful endeavour but no improvements still on baggage claim expansion or airport building infrastructure in general...AA should have made this one of the pre-requisites
  • Rhythm up.. (25/05/2023, 14:02) Like (22) Dislike (0) Reply
    Good start..We will wait and see. This is not a sprint race. This is a Marathon.. .Time will decide success or failure.
  • You are Wrong (25/05/2023, 14:12) Like (15) Dislike (16) Reply
    https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/299047/american-airlines-to-connect-british-virgin-islands-with-us/ Kye and VIP AINT DO SHIT. Stop awyo noise, please. American was eyeing this for awhile.
  • Lb (25/05/2023, 14:53) Like (11) Dislike (10) Reply
    Imagine if the corrupt ndp was in to accept this after they looted 7 .2 m with no one in jail

    There is a god in heaven the voters are wise they voted vip and Lorna stayed in our corner
  • small minded (25/05/2023, 15:15) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    really sick of folks with VIP and NDP. There were people in Airport Authority who pulled this together with AA. If a crab fly in this place it is politics
  • NICK (25/05/2023, 15:30) Like (2) Dislike (2) Reply
    Kudo!!! Waited a long time, so nice, let progress continue.
  • to vip (25/05/2023, 17:26) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    AYO GOT LORNA IN AYO CORNER NOW SO ASK HER WHO SHE GAVE THE 7.2 MILLION DOLLARS TO
  • VERY COSTLY (25/05/2023, 17:27) Like (14) Dislike (7) Reply
    A LOT OF U ALL EXCITED AND HAPPY THAT
    AA/ A. EAGLE IS COMING.
    CHECK THE PRICES ONLINE AND AND YOUR FACES WILL CHANGE WHEN U SEE HOW EXPENSIVE IT IS.
    A LOT OF U WILL STILL BE TAKING THE FERRY AND GOING TO ST. THOMAS.
    • Me (25/05/2023, 18:18) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @ Very Costly... you sure right. The flights in July is about $1,445.00 and I am only spending 2 days and come back. I can't afford them prices so must be only the Business class and the Government flyers and those companies paying for them staff.
      I surely cant afford those prices so I will take my ferry and get Sprint or JetBlue or even AA out of St. Thomas for half price or less.

  • CB Romney had the first direct flight in the 80's (25/05/2023, 17:29) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    American Eagle started to fly in the Caribbean again this year after abandoning us for years
  • Have to laugh (25/05/2023, 18:34) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    YOU DAMNED IF YOU DO AND DAMED IF YOU DON’T. Look how a plane that began direct service from Miami to Tortola that is going to benefit everyone turned into a debate about 7m plane and the who, what a why. If you chose to continue taking the ferry to st,Thomas to catch a flight to Miami then so be it but don’t complain about the ferry is going to lose business. Don’t complain about how high the plane tickets are. Everything is expensive.
  • bvi guy (25/05/2023, 20:46) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I love this place…..lol!
  • Half truth (25/05/2023, 22:23) Like (4) Dislike (3) Reply
    @ Disinterested & Lb
    It’s either that both of you seem to have short term memory or else that you just refuse to admit the gross mismanagement of the public’s money by the former VIP administration. You are just highlighting the $7.2 for the plane by the NDP administration but conveniently refusing to accept the fact that the VIP squandered in excess of $60 million within a three year period and only a percentage of the people benefited from it. I am in no way defending the NDP or bashing the VIP; but we must call a spade - a spade. It doesn’t make sense to criticize one team when the reputation of the other is questionable. This is nothing short of the pot bottom calling the kettle own black. You probably need to go back to the COI report to refresh your memory- lest you forget.
    • Disinterested (26/05/2023, 13:16) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
      @Half Truth, what did I write that is the half truth about the $7,200. 000 BVI Airways debacle, boondoggle, etc? It seems as if you are high on deflecting, denying, projecting and hoping that the $7, 200,000 story die a natural and tragic death, chalking it up to a poor decision that is acceptable. In case you deliberately forget, the commentary is about AA test flight for a nonstop flight from MIA to EiS. And it seems reasonable and appropriate to discuss a similar and costly initiative that flop badly. Both the NDP and VIP championed bringing a nonstop flight from MIA to EIS. The VIP was successful and NDP’s effort didn’t get off the ground, crashing before taking flight. The NDP’s approach to bringing nonstop flight was a poor, poor business decision. The NDP committed a SNAFU (Situation Normal All F’K Up) hard to explain, rookie business decision. It front-loaded the supposed cost of getting this phantom airline off the ground. The BVI taxpayers had all the skin in the game; the scam artist and schemers nought. There must be an in-depth and comprehensive investigation into the BVI Airways front loading of the $7,200, 000. The BVI needs a structural adjustment in its in the authorization and appropriation of public dollars. A $7, 200, 000 nonemergency expenditure should not be the executive branch alone; the HoA should also be in the expenditure decision tree. Perhaps, there should be a Senate which will add more eyeballs to the process, slowing things down, resulting in more debate at the executive branch, etc. Whenever there is a commentary on any alleged VIP expenditure squandering, I will be on it like fly on s…t.
  • Norris Turnbull (25/05/2023, 22:37) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Hard landing. Be careful.
  • home boy (25/05/2023, 23:07) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    A round trip ticket cost over $2000.00 St thomas hear I come ,round trip less than $400.00 , the trip from Tortola to expensive.
  • AYO LOOKING POLITICAL MILEAGE (25/05/2023, 23:42) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    WHY ALL THE HOOPLA? AMERICAN EAGLE STOPPED FLYING IN THE CARIBBEAN A FEW YEARS AGO AND DECIDED TO RETURN WITH MORE EFFECIENT PLANES...THEY RECENTLY STARTED FLYING TO DOMINICA AND ANGUILLA SO I DONT SEE WHY EVERYBODY THINKING THAT IT WAS KYE AND THE VIP WHO BROUGHT THEM BACK...AYO COULD FOOL WHO DONT KNOW BETTER
  • run way (26/05/2023, 02:12) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    After today vip going be in power for 3 terms
  • Immigration (26/05/2023, 05:48) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    well, this is great news...but i really do hope that the airport authority coordinate with immigration and the airlines and make sure that the immigration forms are given out on the airplane and not as you walk through the door at immigration...last 4 flights ive arrived on here, no immigration forms available...it is frustrating...especially if travelling with children and you need to do one for each person.
  • Lets get it right (26/05/2023, 07:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lorna- please make sure the immigration people work right.
  • Extend the airport (26/05/2023, 08:55) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    So why do we need to extend the airport again? More government waste ?
  • E. Leonard (26/05/2023, 15:05) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    Tourism is a vital part of the VI’s economic twin pillars; financial services, other half of pillar. Though tourism twin provide more government revenue, tourism provide more direct, indirect, and induced employment. Moreover, this nonstop flight from Miami International Airport( MIA) to Terrance B. International Airport(EIS) in the Virgin Islands [British] will definitely boost tourism and improving the convenient travel for visitors getting to traveling to the Virgin Islands, as well as for domestic travel out and in of the Virgin Islands. Nevertheless, the airline business is a labour-intensive, capital-intensive and razor-thin profit margin business. Passengers are the major source of revenue for a passenger airline. In the hotel business, there must be a minimum heads in beds consistently to sustain operations. Similarly, a ferry and bus service must carry a consistent minimum number of passengers to stay profitable and in operation. In the passenger airline business or industry economics, there are a number of metrics. One of the key metric is Passenger Load Factor(PLF),ie, utilization of available seats/capacity. Airlines, passenger airlines, incur a fix cost when they take off and land. That cost is paid by paying customers. Airlines require a minimum number of seats being occupied by paying customers (not all passengers on-board are paying customers or pay full fare) to cover operating costs and making a profit. Airlines are business and will not stay in operations or on a route just breaking-even. The operating PLF for each airline, for each flight, is different. Per the the International Air Transport Association ( IATA), the average PLF in 2019 was an estimated 80%. The reality is that for AA to stay on the MIA-EIS route it must be maintaining a profitable PLF metric. Moreover, if it were not meeting its profitable PLF, it may consider staying on route if the government agrees to subsidized their operations.
    • Quiet Storm (26/05/2023, 16:41) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      If passenger loading is a big deal, how do the ferries mske money? Do the ferries even know what their fix costs are for every time they leave port? Will the direct flight from
      Miami impact the ferries bottomline? Are the terms direct and nonstop interchangeable? Notice you consistently used the term nonstop vice direct. Ok. Is governing subsidizing this flight(s)? Enquiring minds want to know. Os American Eagle returning to the Caribbean from AA hub in Miami? Why you all does go way and don’t come back? Just got to ask. You either studied aviation or is studying aviation?
    • @E.Leonard (26/05/2023, 17:34) Like (1) Dislike (4) Reply
      E. Leonard, my friend, this is a popular flight or route so I’m confident that AA will not have a problem attaining and maintaining its profitable passenger load factor. The evidence of its popularity is in, ie, according to minister Kye Rymer, AA is already adding flights to its schedule. Nonetheless, if it were to stumble a bit on meeting its PLF, government should strongly consider subsidizing the flight. It will have a favorable return on its investment.
  • Socrates (27/05/2023, 09:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    How long will it take AA to pull the plug on the route if it is not meeting its profitable PLF and government is subsidizing the flight? Will the MIA-EIS be competitive with the the MIA -STT route? Will AA be refueled at EIS before the return trip? Will AA bring its own yellow gear and staff for line maintenance or it will be using local services? This flight/route is a Big F’ng deal and I will watching and observing.
  • pete (30/05/2023, 13:54) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    so what are the residents saying when planes descend over their homes at all hours? how noisy is that?


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