AA flights to BVI capture international attention
The American Airlines (AA) non-stop flights which commenced on June 1 from Miami, USA to the BVI, have captured international attention, potentially opening the door for a further boost in the territory’s tourism numbers.
The commencement of non-stop flights are being hailed as historic, as they represent a break in the dry spell after more than 30 years. The last time the BVI saw direct flights was under the Cyril B Romney administration in the 1980s.
International outlets such as Forbes Magazine and the Miami Herald are among the host of regional, global, and travel industry outlets that have highlighted the direct flights and what they mean for the territory.
The Forbes Magazine article published on June 6, stated: “Finally, travellers have an easy way to reach the British Virgin Islands. Previously, travel to the BVIs typically involved a flight to the neighbouring US Virgin Islands and a combination of cumbersome ferry rides to reach.”
But even as the world turns their eyes to the territory, local authorities are feverishly working out challenges that pose a threat to the historic feat of direct flights from the US mainland.
A short runway at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island is already posing some challenges for AA planes and even resulted in a viral Facebook post from a visitor whose plans were disrupted due to issues experienced during take-off on June 4.
The BVI Airports Authority have assured that those issues are normal and are experienced in neighbouring destinations with short runways. Still, residents remain hopeful that the issues will not affect the direct flights from which they, too, stand to benefit.
Additionally, staffing challenges were announced at the Beef Island-based airport recently and resulted in a temporary closure of the facility. Neither the airport authority nor the government have outlined the steps they will be taking to address these issues at the Beef Island airport to sustain the AA flights over the long term.
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We are glad for the advancement. I hope we can soon move on, see where we need to improve and focus on bettering our country in terms of customer service, cleanliness, governance, health, education and infrastructure. We do have alot to do in terms of improvement. The islands the Br V.I turn their nose down to have direct flights to usa, London, Canada, Africa and other countries for years now, but every time you go to any of these countries and airports, they step up a notch. Do they have internal problems as a country? they sure do, but as a visitor, what do you see and as visitors entering and leaving the bvi what do they experience other than sand and sea.
We have hooray hooray which is what we good at but let us now see how we can attract other airlines and other destinations and the health care and stuff that needs to come with it.
was at the hospital the other day and even though it was not expressed, they did not seem to have enough basic emergency items. we got work to do so let’s get going
I WAS SAYING ALL ALONG THAT CYRIL ROMNEY WAS THE 1ST TO BRING DIRECT FLIGHTS….NOT THE VIP!
Mr. ROMNEY WAS AN INDEPENDENT ELECTED FOR FIFTH DISTRICT IN A COLATION GOVERNMENT
Those direct flights between Miami banks and Tortola banks back in the 80’s were allegedly for large bags of cash with a few passengers along for the ride.
I WILL STILL GO TO ST THOMAS FOR MY FLT.
THE CHANCES OF YOU NOT GETTING TO BOARD YOUR FLT AT BEEF ISLAND IS VERY HIGH BECAUSE OF SAFETY REASONS– ALOT OF FACTORS WILL COME INTO PLAY SUCH AS WIND SPEED, WIND DIRECTION, WEIGHT ETC ETC. UNTIL SUCH TIME THE RUNWAY EXTENDED TO FAA STANDARDS FLIGHT LIMITATION WILLL ALWAYS BE THERE. SAFETY FIRST
Love your comment. Jet Blue is trying to enter STKitts and Virgin Air is hosting their flight to three Caribbean destinations. Which could push us to rethink the Caribbean route or go direct to the populated country.
Love what the administration is doing.We have a few areas to improve, so let’s push for it.
Lengthen or relocate the runway to the southern side of the terminal building. Then Target also Canadian and UK direct flights. Get hassle free transitions and security checks with TSA based at Beef Island to pre-check passengers for US flights. TSA Security must only be trained American citizens living in the BVI or officers from USVI. Heck, make it even better by making the BVI the transit point for eastern Caribbean countries as we are one of the only british countries using the US dollar
Read this article closer….
Forbes describes our ferries as “cumbersome.” That’s a negative to an industry we have been providing. So Forbes bashes our ferries and the people who staff them. Got it.
And while we have those flights, they’re not guaranteed. Even this article notes the shortcomings of the short runway. Heat, weight of the plane are now very real factors that will disrupt this “easy way” to travel.
Extension of the Beef Island runway cannot wait until 2027 for completion. A few more AA flight delays into or out of EIS because of shifts in prevailing winds and there is increasing likelihood that these direct Miami-BVI flights might be discontinued for the time being.
When the old airstrip on Beef Island was first extended many years ago to what eventually became its current state, it was done by “Sappers,” the British Corps of Royal Engineers. And we all see in the news how rapidly and efficiently the military can build airstrips. Perhaps the BVI Government can once again obtain Britain’s assistance in executing this project fairly quickly and at reasonable cost via deployment of the Royal Engineers.
Am just wondering how an when was this airport name an international airport ?