Expansion of TB Lettsome airport a misplaced objective- Local pilot
The local pilot, also a qualified aeronautical engineer and mechanic, was a guest on the Speak Out BVI radio show hosted by Doug Wheatley and aired on Tuesday February 23, 2016 on ZBVI 780 AM.
When asked by fellow guest Natalio D. Wheatley aka Sowande Uhuru whether it would be a good thing for one of the big airlines to commence service offering direct flights to the mainland United States, Brathwaite said that this would be a conundrum.
“And I say that because I have my own opinions and reservations about the airport. To me, based on my point of view, whether the airport expands or doesn't, it does not affect us as an airline, because we could make certain adjustments.”
He said he gets to visit many different places, including throughout the Caribbean, and from what he has observed the VI is not a hub and therefore an expanded airport would be a misplaced objective.
“Be it that we are not a hub and we are not supporting any other countries, I still have questions in my mind in terms of the expansion,” he said.
However, Brathwaite made it clear that he is still “on the bus” for having the VI more accessible, for which the Government has partnered with BVI Airlines, now foreign owned, with a cash injection of $7 million to be repaid over the next three years.
Brathwaite noted that the VI is one of the few places in the Caribbean where someone had to make so many stops before arriving here.
The Government is intending to embark on the upgrade of the airport using a design-build model and it is expected to be upwards of at least $200 million.
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26 Responses to “Expansion of TB Lettsome airport a misplaced objective- Local pilot”
How can it be a hub if it doesn't have a runway to accommodate the aircraft required for such an arrangement? They don't determine that somewhere is a hub then build a runway. Once infrastructure is in place then other things will fall into place. We cannot sit here talking foolishness while we lose tourists and suffer ourselves as residents as it takes us 2 full stressful days even if we going right there Miami. That is bullsh*t and we need to get our acts together. No way nobody should lose 2 full days from BVI to Florida.
have to stop in Antigua. If someone would go around there and connect people up, say via Barbados, they and
their cargo could avoid the ridiculous Liat experience and schedule from BVI. THAT is essential!
Planes start to descend over JVD and west end, road town and east to approach. It is incredibly noisy and disrupts any peace and quiet people are seeking. there are no such thing as direct flights anymore. Even the ones from Miami are changes for most people. There is a direct flight to St Thomas during season which SHOULD connect with the FERRIES. But it doesn't. If you were so concerned about less connections for tourists how about getting the FERRIES to meet the flights for a smooth connection. And those who live West still won't use East airport.
This new airport is to cater to the private jets of VG.