Reduced AA tourist season flights not a major concern for VI - Premier Smith
In a recently held press conference, the Premier said “American Airlines are expected to reduce their flights to the Territory and to the region.”
He, however, assured that “Other airlines will be taking up that slack. Jetblue particularly are increasing their presence in the region and flying to Puerto Rico”.
Dr Smith continued, “We have also had discussions with other airlines like Seaborne and the other local airline and we have determined from our discussion with them that they would be putting on extra flights to take up that slack… with the decrease in the American Airlines flights to the BVI.”
The Premier also noted that the Government is also working with ferry operators to increase the efficiency of transport and particularly to “relate the departure times to the arrival times of the planes from North America so that the visitors will have a better experience if they come over to the BVI.”
“In addition to that” he noted, “we’ll be putting in place other measures such as a welcome activity in the United States Virgin Islands, again to ensure that our visitors have a better experience when they get from their plane to the BVI.”
Regarding the involvement of LIAT’s new CEO with the government on concerns with flights in the Territory, Dr Smith said, “We had discussions before they got the new CEO and we were discussing how LIAT could provide a better service to the BVI. We need to continue the discussions with the new CEO”.
Seaborne, in a press release distributed yesterday, October 8, 2012, revealed that daily flights to the Territory from Puerto Rico, will begin from December 8, 2012.
The release further disclosed that “Seaborne Airlines, the regional carrier based in St. Croix, USVI, and the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board in collaboration with the BVI Airport Authority [yesterday] announced daily round-trip flights between San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport to the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, serving the British Virgin Islands.”
Additionally, there are also plans to have direct non-stop flights from San Juan to Virgin Gorda.
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5 Responses to “Reduced AA tourist season flights not a major concern for VI - Premier Smith”
I don't understand how people are advocating the Government subsidizing Ferries but not investing in a proper airport and runway. The Ferries obviously cannot conduct proper business because they're always down and leaving people stranded. The only way we can increase the schedule is for Government to subsidize it and that's another set of politics and waste. If millions are to be spent, it should be on the Airport. Yes, the Ferries will still need to be worked on as some people may still opt to come in through St Thomas. But it's a proper waste trying to get these Ferries to do anything. The only one that seems to get things right around here is Speedy's. Maybe we should let him take over the St Thomas runs as well, he has proper boats and is always on time. RT Fast Ferry were doing good for a while but now look, not one boat running going on 2months now. We need to stop playing politics and support the Airport development. It's the only way we can guarantee traffic in and out of the BVI in the proper manner. Subsidizing unreliable Ferries and unreliable Airlines like LIAT will cost the Government over years than it would to invest in the Airport. AA is almost out and the reality is, we will be up $h1t creek without a paddle if nothing is put in place.