If you do nothing else for BVI, bring direct flights - Morley to Branson
Speaking at the Miss World Charity Dinner and Philanthropic Award Ceremony at The Moorings last evening, February 25, 2018, Ms Morley, noted that for the Virgin Islands to boost its tourism potential it must have direct flights from Europe and North America.
“What’s missing is direct flights to the BVI…you need to have direct flights into the BVI,” Morley stated.
The British businesswoman, charity worker and former model then challenged Mr Branson, who owns two private islands in the Virgin Islands, to help make direct flights to the VI a reality by using his airline, Virgin Atlantic.
Where is Virgin Atlantic?
“I truly believe you have got one of the most famous people on Necker Island. Where is Virgin [Atlantic]? Where is it? bring it on,” Ms Morley said to loud applause.
“That is what is needed. You all got to tell the truth…So Mr Branson please bring your Virgin airline here first. If you do nothing else, that is the best thing you can do for the BVI,” Ms Morley added, and again was met with loud cheers and applause.
It should be noted here that Mr Branson, who was not at the function last evening, had announced in July 2017 that he was selling 31% of Virgin Atlantic, relinquishing his controlling interest in the airline he founded in 1984.
Branson was expected to net £220m from the deal to sell the 31% stake to Air France-KLM and remain as chairman of the airline. He retained a 20% interest, leaving the US giant Delta as the largest shareholder in Virgin Atlantic with 49%, according to The Guardian, a UK newspaper.
Meanwhile, Ms Morley is part of the delegation on a historic visit to the Virgin Islands.
The Miss World Organisation team includes reigning 2017 Miss World Manushi Chhillar of India, 2016 Miss World Stephanie Del Valle of Puerto Rico, five continental queens, and other senior management of the Miss World Organisation.
The visit is part of the organisation’s ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ tour and is aimed at raising funds for the rebuilding of the Eslyn Henley Richiez Learning Center, and to add support to the Territory’s post Irma recovery by using the prestigious Miss World brand to promote the VI’s tourism product.
The delegation arrived in the Territory on February 25, 2018 and will depart on March 1, 2018.
VI needs direct flights but…
Meanwhile, while no one disputes that direct flights to the Virgin Islands from North America and even Europe are needed, many were opposed to the way the National Democratic Party (NDP) Government was trying to make it happen.
One of the main criticisms was, apart from its usual secrecy, the giving of over $7M dollars to a defunct airline, BVI Airways, to provide the service, even after the airline had previously pulled out of the BVI and had owed monies to the BVI Airports Authority.
There have been no direct flights to date and it is unclear whether the service will ever materialise since the sweetheart relationship between BVI Airways and the NDP Government has since gone sour.
Opposition Leader Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) had long commented that a cow was likely to fly over the moon before BVI Airways got going.
“Thus far, $7.2 million dollars has being paid outside the scheduled of payments in the contract for a plane to fly, but it seems as if a cow may quicker fly over the moon before this service starts but the $7.2 million dollars has already being paid with reports that alleged that significantly more monies from government will be needed,” Hon Fahie said on July 5, 2017.
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21 Responses to “If you do nothing else for BVI, bring direct flights - Morley to Branson”
Goodbye.
Go @#$%&....Branson dont do a dam thing
Why the Government wont get BVI airways up and running, they seems to sweep that under the table and look into someone else plate.
wicked minds!!!
Richard Branson don't have owe us anything. Miss world should have address the government instead.
Every time an airline/aircraft lifts off a fix cost is incurred; it must have either paying passengers or cargo to cover the fix cost, breaking even. Airlines have to operate above the break even load factor (BLF) to stay in business/airborne.
Passenger load factor (PLF), how full an aircraft is, is a critical metric in the airline business. It is the core metric that determines if an airline holds or folds. It is the ratio of revenue passenger mile to available seat mile. The PLF for each airline is different; there is no one size fits all. The bottom line is that an airline must operate above the BLF to stay airborne.
How long the runway is or how modern the terminal is not what keeps airlines airborne; it is paying customers or cargo. No doubt, Sir Richard Branson or any other investor(s) will look closely at PLF before dumping money into a point to point airline route/venture.