WINAIR seeking to increase service to VI- Hon Rymer
During an interview with Government Information Service (GIS), Hon Rymer said the visit stemmed from increasing demand for flights into the destination and hence WINAIR wanted to meet to better understand the situation on the ground as it relates to tourists’ point of origin and how WINAIR can play a role in enhancing the service and travel experience through collaboration.
WINAIR, he continued, is a growing company with many multi-airline collaborations and they are looking to see how the Virgin Islands can fit and complement their growing network.
Direct flights from SXM To VG requested
As part of the conversation, Hon Rymer said requests were made for a direct flight from St Maarten to Virgin Gorda as the demand for flights into Virgin Gorda is high.
“It would be easier when you have some guests coming from say Europe and those different countries so that they can fly directly into Virgin Gorda,” he explained.
Meanwhile, a request for flights to the southern Caribbean islands was also made.
“What we’ve seen here in our Territory knowing that we are a destination that is quite diverse with a diverse population, and we know that there are no direct flights here to further down in the Caribbean...so we try to see how best we could ask them to put in a flight direct from BVI down to some of the southern Caribbean islands.”
Hon Rymer also said he hopes the discussions would see discussions on collaboration with WINAIR become fruitful soon.
BVIAA & BVITB represented @ meeting
Hon Rymer added that he thought it necessary to bring in all the necessary personnel into the room to take advantage of the opportunity as it was just a courtesy call. Those who attended the meeting included representatives of the BVI Airports Authority, led by Managing Director Kurt A.G. Menal; Director of BVI Tourist Board, Clive L. McCoy and some of his team members, in addition to staff of the Ministry of Communications and Works.
“We wanted to have that conversation so that whatever was discussed would be collective information that would be best in terms of managing this relationship with WINAIR,” Hon Rymer said.
The Communications and Works Minister said the visit and conversation were good and the VI looks forward to doing more with WINAIR.
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9 Responses to “WINAIR seeking to increase service to VI- Hon Rymer”
I am over 50 and Winair has been around since I was a child. They took a break somewhere along the road and they have upgraded their services and come back strong. I welcome them and any other option.
There is also Sunshine Airways that we have to invite
The stewardess engaged in a very loud argument with one of the passengers just before take off and the pilot had to intervene.
Carry-on luggage which the stewardess told the passenger was okay to leave on the runway next to the plane at take off went missing.Upon arrival, the passenger asks the same stewardess where is the bag? The Stewardess said that they (?the baggage handlers?) will bring it.
In the BVI, the passenger brought the missing bag to the attention of the ground staff meeting the plane. She was told 'Don't worry, they will bring it". Inside the terminal, several staff are asked about the bag, and the same response is given (?Case of passing the buck?) .
An elderly, frail woman walked from the tarmac into the terminal, unassisted. It was sometime before she was noticed by a staff member who got a wheelchair for her.
Passengers had to wait too long at the conveyer belt for their luggage. One attendant announced that passengers on the WINAIR flight should go to the office to inquire about their baggage.
After 5 PM, the passenger inquiring about the lost bag went to the WINAIR's office to report the missing bag, the agent asked questions such as, did you take a picture of the bag and its contents, erc?
Around the same time that the passenger was talking to the agent by the office, a lady came to inquire if her lost luggage had arrived (IS it not the Standard Operating Procedure for airlines to notify passengers when lost luggage arrive and then deliver the lost luggage to the person? Or, does WINAIR not advise on its SOP? Furthermore, in the event that baggage is missing, airlines usually give the passenger some money to replace basic items such as clothes and toiletries}
The following day, the passenger called the agent to ask about filling out a form for missing baggage and was told that after 5 days a form could be filled out as it was carry on luggage and not checked in luggage.
The passenger has contacted WINAIR's Lost and Found Department and Customer Support in St. Maarten as well as the agent in the BVI. NADA!, NADA!
It is now the 7th day since the problem was first reported to the agent in the BVI and the passenger has not received the form via email (the agent was given her email and has contacted the passenger via this medium).
Negative experience from travelling on WINAIR is counted as an INEXPENSIVE LESSON as other avenues might be discovered:
PERSONS TRAVELLING FROM THE BVI THROUGH ST. MAARTEN TO PLACES SUCH AS ANGUILLA, ST KITTS, SABA, and ST. EUSTATIUS MIGHT WANT TO CONSIDER FLYING ON ANOTHER AIRLINE TO ST MAARTEEN AND THEN
CATCHING THE FERRY TO THEIR FINAL DESTINATION. It is less costly and less frustrating than paying WINAIR for inconsiderate treatment.
Remember that it is more costly to travel to the Caribbean than to mainland America.
It is shameful that you are asked to pay to be treated in such a disparaging manner.
Is the inter ish that's the bad one
With C airlines coming we have competition