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Take off date No 5 for BVI Airways; Fasten your seatbelts!

- Latest date announced for direct flights, by the Miami International Airport, is July 22, 2017
While BVI Airways has engaged in public relations each time it receives an approval, the plane is yet to take off between Miami and Beef Island. Photo: gobvi.com
Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL), left, has emerged as the chief lobbyist for BVI Airways, while strongly criticising locally owned VI Airlink for filing an objection to the application of BVI Airways. Right: Captain Neville C. Braithwaite Jr of VI Airlink. Photo: VINO/Facebook
Premier Dr The Hon D. Orlando Smith (AL), left, has emerged as the chief lobbyist for BVI Airways, while strongly criticising locally owned VI Airlink for filing an objection to the application of BVI Airways. Right: Captain Neville C. Braithwaite Jr of VI Airlink. Photo: VINO/Facebook
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The people of the Virgin Islands, especially the tax payers that bailed out a defunct BVI Airways to the tune of $7.2M in exchange for direct flights from Miami, Florida, USA to Beef Island’s Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport, are yet to see the deal materialise as promised.

While BVI Airways has engaged in public relations each time it receives an approval, the plane is yet to take off between Miami and Beef Island.

Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL), who has emerged as the chief lobbyist for the foreign-owned venture and continues to be under fire for misinformation over the agreement he signed, had given the people and tax payers three to four different dates for flights to begin.

He first told the public that the airline will fly on October 30, 2016 but it never did. Premier Smith came back and said direct flights will commence on November 30, 2016 but it never happened. He then changed his take-off date to December 30, 2016 but that too never happened.

A new date July 22, 2017 for direct services; Number 5

Earlier this month, in response to a question from Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) on the topic, the Premier shied away from giving another date for take-off to Miami; however, he told the people that BVI Airways had announced it will start flying at the end of June 2017, bringing it to four missed deadlines.

This will not happen.

Now comes word, via a press release from the Miami International Airport in Florida, that flights between the Virgin Islands and Miami via BVI Airways will begin on “July 22, 2017”.

The public is looking forward to the services now that a fifth date has been announced, this time by the Miami International Airport, although surprisingly there has been no word from BVI Airways.

Premier Smith wrote a letter to the United States Government lambasting a local company, VI Air link, in favour of the overseas company BVI Airways. Many persons were caught by surprise by such a letter and one talk show host Edmund G. Maduro has described Dr Smith’s action as “worse than treason.”

22 Responses to “Take off date No 5 for BVI Airways; Fasten your seatbelts!”

  • cay (23/06/2017, 16:19) Like (7) Dislike (5) Reply
    Ok july 22 i going go maimi yall
  • Jacperlance (23/06/2017, 16:38) Like (13) Dislike (0) Reply
    Vino what overseas company you talking about, the man invested the peoples money in this company on his own behalf, he is a big share holder. Never before has there been more secrets than under this government
  • 911 (23/06/2017, 16:38) Like (0) Dislike (2) Reply
    All they have to do is start the service then people will be happy
  • belonger (23/06/2017, 17:31) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder which plane will be flying, they only have one plane. Is it WW or OS. Remember the other one is already lease to Haiti. Hope the price reasonable, not like Liat charging almost $800 to go SVG. Only time will tell what will happen.
    • The watchman (24/06/2017, 05:46) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      WW (Willoughbiee) or OS (Orlendo Smite). Bet you did not see that! In our face, straight up.
  • ............. (23/06/2017, 17:42) Like (5) Dislike (14) Reply
    "Now comes word, via a press release from the Miami International Airport in Florida, that flights between the Virgin Islands and Miami via BVI Airways will begin on “July 22, 2017”.

    I would take this as a good source.....
  • Yes (23/06/2017, 18:31) Like (7) Dislike (0) Reply
    The bumble bees ain't fly out of north sound up to yet
    • pat (23/06/2017, 20:17) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
      This is one time i agree with edmund 'more that treason' so shame of dr smith!
  • smh (23/06/2017, 18:46) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Now comes word, via a press release from the Miami International Airport in Florida, that flights between the Virgin Islands and Miami via BVI Airways will begin on “July 22, 2017”.

    Where's the link to the story?
  • voter (23/06/2017, 20:13) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Only think left to fly out is my run back to antigua
  • VG-1 (23/06/2017, 21:19) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    We all will wait long and hard to see this happen. It's like we never learn....We can be fed anything and it seems like people out there will believe it . All they have to do is twist a few words around and you all gone with that....SMH
  • See (23/06/2017, 22:27) Like (5) Dislike (1) Reply
    donkeys will fly first
    • YOLO (23/06/2017, 22:52) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I believe it will fly to Miami, it's just a matter of how ugly and traumatic will it be leading up to the start date!!!
  • i from here (23/06/2017, 22:44) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I have said it before, I will say it again ...

    We are the only "civilized" nation in the world that does not stand up and fight for the local citizens.

    Is this fair?
  • my 2 cents (23/06/2017, 23:04) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    Sounds like the almighty dollar is highjacking democracy.
  • Freedom! (24/06/2017, 10:55) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    July 22 ok then do not hold your breath
  • A-300 Airbus (24/06/2017, 14:15) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    "Would U like to fly in my beautiful balloon" ...
  • l (26/06/2017, 10:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    July 22nd is less than a month away and I still can't purchase a ticket? Something wrong.
  • Who wants in my pool (27/06/2017, 04:28) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    OK folks, who wants to start a betting pool on whether or not this "start date" actually flies or not. ( No pun intended)

    I agree with the other person that stated "donkeys will fly first"

  • hawker (29/06/2017, 01:19) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    In 1986 can anyone remember that the same type of aircraft was flying from Miami to tortola with a stop in Bahamas and guess what? it did not last it went belly up........they say history does repeat itself.............why people dont learn from past experiences and try not to make the same mistakes... read:British Caribbean Airways (IATA: EO) was a short lived airline, which in 1986 operated a single BAe 146-100 jet aircraft[1] from Miami, Florida to Tortola, British Virgin Islands with an intermediate stop at Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands. The British Caribbean flights into Tortola marked the only time this small airport in the BVI had scheduled passenger jet service.


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