British Virgin Islands: Premier Dr. D Orlando Smith announced at a press briefing today that government is having discussions with regional airline LIAT to organise more regular flights between the BVI and Puerto Rico, the BVInews.com reported.
It is no secret that airlift concerns continue to hover in the territory, and were further pushed to the forefront with the bankruptcy announcement made last year by American Airlines/Eagle, plus the constant publicised financial instability of LIAT, and talks of route-cutting.
However, the territory’s leader explained that government is very concerned about airlift and the discussions were started to ensure continued connectivity between Beef Island and Puerto Rico. He said the talks with LIAT are geared towards ensuring that the territory continues to have access to visitors that arrive via Puerto Rico.
The premier added that government is also discussing with LIAT about further access to Antigua so that persons coming with international flights through Antigua can connect as well.
The BVInews.com report said that the airline situation was presented at a tourism stakeholder, tourism rescue and recovery strategy consultation that was held on January 12 at the Eileene Parsons Auditorium.
At that gathering a resident asked: “If these two airlines pull out, how are we going to get our tourist from Europe here? And do we have a plan in case this happens?”
Prior to the man’s question, Tourist Board Chairman Russell Harrigan had spoken about taking advantage of certain flights that come through the United States Virgin Islands.
Both Harrigan and Premier Smith had also mentioned the formation of a Tourist Board Committee to deal with the issue of airlift.
Harrigan had stated that although the managing director of the BVI Airports Authority is involved, the committee will have the realm to include persons in the community and private sector who are knowledgeable about the issue, the BVInews.com said.
At that time Premier Smith told the gathering: “I know the chairman has already reached out to our neighbours about the issues of airlift, and we will meet with them over the next several weeks on this and other matters.”
In an August 31, 2011 article on caribarena.com, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, LIAT Airline’s chairman of shareholder governments, announced that LIAT is having a hard time competing with Caribbean Airlines, which has half of its fuel costs subsidized by the Trinidad and Tobago government. As a result Dr. Gonsalves is quoted as saying that LIAT will likely drop unprofitable routes unless the governments of the proposed routes (countries) agree to offer support for the airline. Similarly AMR the management company of American Eagle filed for bankruptcy on November 30, 2011.
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