Seaborne Airlines 34-seat Saab receives a two-fire truck water cannon salute on arrival at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport on March 26, 2013. Photo: VINO

Seaborne Airlines’ 34-seat Saab has made its maiden flight into the VI from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico today, March 26, 2013. Photo: VINO

The inaugural Seaborn Airlines flight arrived to a water cannon salute at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport and the warm welcome of the BVI Tourist Board Director Sharon Flax-Mars, Ms Lynette L. Harrigan, Miss BVI Sharie B. deCastro and Managing Director of the BVI Airports Authority, Mr Denniston Fraser. Photo: VINO

The Seaborne Airlines' 34-seat Saab is said to have the comfort of most modern jetliners and the increased speed will provide the fastest overall journey on all routes Seaborne flies. And the Saab’s fuel efficient aircraft will help keep Seaborne competitive and eco-friendly. Photo: VINO

The flight arrived to a water cannon salute at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport and the warm welcome of the BVI Tourist Board Director Sharon Flax-Mars, Ms Lynette L. Harrigan, Miss BVI Sharie B. deCastro and Managing Director of the BVI Airports Authority, Mr Denniston Fraser.

Arriving passengers expressed satisfaction with the service and said that they were happy to be a part of a historic occasion in the Virgin Islands.

One of the passengers, who hails from Puerto Rico, said the welcome made him feel very special and wanting to continue flying with the airline into the Virgin Islands.

"It’s a great plane, it’s a great plane, the flight was excellent, the plane is very new and very comfortable with much more space than the others that I have travelled in before," commented Ms Chrystal Small, who was among the incoming passengers.

"So I'll be travelling to and fro much more often...there has been an increase in the flights and that's very good as well," Ms Small added.

For crew member and pilot James P. Thurber, it was his first flight to the Virgin Islands and will definitely be recording it in his resume as being a part of history making. "Once we got past St. Thomas it was beautiful water and I think the passengers enjoyed it very much," he said, adding that in his five-year flight experience to New York, he has never had such a fabulous experience as this one.

"We just got on to getting it certified and we are very happy about that and myself and the other captain it’s our first day of revenue and we are very happy about the experience," he added. The other crew members were Steve B Delamar, Jerry J. Cruz and Juilo A. Mendez.

According to Mrs Flax-Mars, Seaborne Airlines keeping to their promise spells well for the relationship and that it came at a critical time. "Seaborne Airlines have promised and I am happy to say that they have delivered for the people of the British Virgin Islands and delivering prior to American Eagle making their exit. That is very important at this time," said Flax-Mars.

With the exit of American Eagle, there was an assurance there would not have been any loss of air carrier seats since the tourist board has been in discussion with Seaborne and with the added capacity of Cape Air there will be additional seats. "So for us the push right now is to continue to get the message out to our industry partners in the US, have those interline agreements signed and sealed and get people to continue coming to the BVI and understanding that there is airlift," Flax-Mars added.

As for the Seaborne Airlines’ flights to Virgin Gorda, it was said there is need for additional marketing, something which is currently being pursued.

See previous article posted on March 26, 2013

Seaborne Airlines 34-seat Saab makes maiden flight to VI

Seaborne Airlines’ 34-seat Saab has made its maiden flight into the VI from the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico today, March 26, 2013.

And to properly commemorate the event, Managing Director of the BVI Airports Authority Denniston Fraser graciously offered to give Seaborne Airlines a two-fire truck water cannon salute when the aircraft arrived at the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport.

Representatives of the BVI Tourist Board and Miss BVI Sharie B. deCastro were were among the persons to welcome the inaugural flight.

“After 8 months of incredible work by the Seaborne operations team we are happy and proud to introduce the 34 passenger Saab 340B aircraft to the Caribbean. I want to personally thank the Seaborne team for their incredible efforts over the past several months. This truly marks a major milestone in Seaborne Airlines history,” Chief Operating Officer of Seaborne Airlines, David Ziemer said in a press release.

This 34 seat Saab aircraft is said to have the comfort of most modern jetliners and the increased speed will provide the fastest overall journey on all routes Seaborne flies. And the Saab’s fuel efficient aircraft will help keep Seaborne competitive and eco-friendly, the press release stated.

More details to come.