AA launches late-night flights in BVI
American Airlines launched its first late-night arrival and early-morning departure service to the BVI, a move officials say strengthens air connectivity and removes the need for overnight stays in Miami.
The new service began on December 18, with American Airlines Flight 3668 arriving at Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island at 10:14 pm. The first early-morning departure followed on December 19, when Flight 3398 left the airport at 8 am.
The BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission announced the launch in a press release, describing it as a significant improvement in access to the territory for travellers from North America, the UK and Europe. The release said the new flight schedule “eliminates the need for overnight stays in Miami, enhancing connectivity” for visitors travelling onward to the BVI. The service is operating daily through March.
Officials at the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA) said the overnight service marked a milestone for air travel to the territory.
“This new service expands access to key US markets, strengthens our tourism offering, and provides greater flexibility for residents, visitors, families and business travellers alike,” he added.
According to the Tourist Board, the new schedule builds on American Airlines’ existing operations, which already include five daily nonstop flights between Miami and Beef Island. With the added late-night arrival and early-morning departure, travellers now have more options when planning their trips.
Tourism officials said improved air access remains critical to the sector’s growth.
“This expanded American Airlines service marks a significant step forward,” Director of Tourism Clive McCoy said. “The new daily schedule removes a major barrier for travellers, making it easier for visitors from North America, as well as the UK and Europe, to reach the BVI without overnight stops,” he stated.
Air access has been a major issue in the territory, with travellers often forced to spend nights in transit hubs due to limited flight schedules. The introduction of overnight service is expected to ease those challenges while providing greater flexibility for residents and visitors travelling to and from the islands.
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While on the surface, one may say it’s a great thing that AA has launched late night flights from MIA to EIS, when one look at the ticket prices to travel between Miami and Beef Islands, one quickly realiazes the airline decision has a lot to do with profit.
Round trip tickets between Miami and Beef Island typicically average around $1000.00 plus. That is 2-3 times higher than what one may pay for a round trip ticket between Miami and St.Thomas and the travel distance is similar.
The prices are ridiulously high, and certainly not priced for the average local person. The airline is targeting high end customers who they believe can afford those shocker prices.
Those prices will never go down so long as American Islands has the monopoly on that route. They will squeeze every dime they can get out of that route for as long as they can.
Thus the need for competetion in that market, specifically that route, whereby other airlines can compete on that route. Ticket prices will go down to more affordable levels under those conditions.
Unfortunately, at the current airport lenght, other airlines may not have the equipment capacity to fly directly into Beef Island as American.
Thus, in terms of long term planning and more competitive prices that are not only in the reach of the high end tourist but also within the reach of the average Virgin Islanders, it’s really imperative that airport is extended.
An extended airport length will allow other airlines to fly to Beef Islands from Miami and possible other destinations within the US or even from other countries. Competition will be good for the marketplace and affect ticket prices in a positive way.
As it stands, I think the average Virgin Islander are priced out, and it’s a darn shame that a person living in these islands cannot get a decently priced direct flight back and forth to their country.
As a Virgin Islander, that makes me mad as hell that I cannot get a decent and reasonably priced flight back and forth to my country without paying with an arm and leg, and my first born.
I feel like I am being robbed and taken advantage of each time I try to book a ticket on that route. Quite frankly I am so blanked off, the situation is motivating me to get involved in the airline business.
While a profit has to be made, I certainly would not be overcharging people, and quite frankly ripping people off. I know there are some Virgin Islanders who would pay thru their noses to get on one of those flights as a flex of whatever status they think they have, but quite frankly, they better off traveling the sceinic route to St.Thomas.
On balance, yes, it’s good there are direct flights from the US to Beef Island that has now extended to nights, but at what cost?
What’s the point of having airlift service to the British Virgin Islands from the U.S. mainland that the average Virgin Islander cannot afford?
American need to do better, and the government needs to get on with getting that airport extended to facilitate competition, so that the cost of air travel between Beef Island and Miami is affordable to locals as well as high end tourist.
Until then, I am not trying to show off and enrich American on that route. Ill travel the way I have always travelled to St.Thomas whereby there are multiple airlines to choose from with better ticket price options.
You have articulated exactly why the runway needs to be lenghtened .Verbose but on point.
Adding more flights/airlines serving an expanded Beef Island will likely NOT decrease ticket prices as the landing fees will likely exponentially increase on tickets, plus airport development fees, add in environmental fees, then departure fees and of course the cost of Chinese language lessons so locals will be able to understand what the new property owners are saying when BVI defaults on loan from China for shoddy construction of airport by Chinese companies who will get that job. Oh yes, add another $500,000 for another party to distract the locals for a couple hours.
BVI trying to be McDonald’s of Caribbean tourism. Serve up crap product millions. Few will benefit. Very few.
Why do we need an airport now ?
– roads
– schools
– water
– dumpsters
– invest in tourism areas
These need to be done first, not use the airport project funds to line pockets …
I don’t see why this is considered problematic. There is an alternative via the same airline. This late flight has its own shortcomings. If it’s canceled in Miami there is no alternative but to remain in Miami overnight.It is my experience that local taxi drivers in these VI have early bedtime. If flight is delayed, passengers are not promised transport to home destination which could be East West North South or across the waters. This could result in required stay in a hotel and desk service often have pigs as receptionists under ordinary circumstance so pity the midnight victim arriving to face such and after paying premium airline price. I certainly appreciate and welcome this late flight to the list but more than relieved to know that the the others wont be affected. Sumtingvfo all ah we.
Why do we need an airport now ?
– roads
– schools
– water
– dumpsters
– invest in tourism areas
These need to be done first, not use the airport project funds to line pockets …
————————————————–
Those things you mentioned definately need redress, but money has to come from somewhere to address those issues.
Let’s be clear, the BVI economy does not generate the kind of money it would need to do all that needs to be done on its own.
It has always borowwed money to undertake capital projects. Cases in point: the Beef Island Bridge, The Hospital, Pier Park, among others. When money was not borrowed from external sources, it turned to the Social Security Fund due to limits placed on borrowing by the U.K.
A major factor for lack of cash to do capital projects is that no Major Taxes on Income or Assets is assesed here in this island nation.
The BVI is a tax-neutral country, which generate significant income from international business thru the financial industry.
However, there is no Personal Income Tax, No Corporate Income Tax and only annual government fees for some businesses, No Capital Gains Tax, No Withholding Tax: Dividends, interest, and royalties paid to shareholders and investors are not subject to withholding tax, No Sales Tax or VAT, No Inheritance or Wealth Taxes, and no taxes imposed on estates, inheritances, or overall wealth.
In sum, the tax base is miminal, yet some people expect the government to do everything without the money to do it. The government has to get that money from somewhere. If it’s not from tax reserves, it has to be borrowed.
Don’t expect to be in a country whereby you are not required to pay much in taxes and look for everthing to be fixed as you wish. That money has to come from somewhere.
A lengtened airport will cost to build, but will pay for itself over time. Revenues from all aspect of the tourism industry will increase once completed and arrivals increase. The overnight guest which has always lagged will increase as well increasing overall tourism revenues.
More money coming into the country means more money for the goverment to do what you suggested which I agree needs improvement; however, I do not believe that these things have to be done before the airport is extended.
You cannot build anything without money, and that’s the bottom line. The government needs to increase it’s revenue base to avoid its dependance on borrowing. After revenues strengthened, the government should be in a better position to address these needs.
The government can walk and chew gum at the same time. It does not have to be do these things first, and the airport after. Hope you get the point I am making here.
A lotta talk about extending the runway. It remains an elusive prize and one from which our sights should really be withdrawn. We can’t afford it and it will extend the country but a marginal benefit. I agree we can improve the airports infrastructure (this means improve the terminal & parking) and possibly extend the runway 100-200 feet. The government is fooling us and only wants to undertake the project so they can skim $20 million. And as every comment above has pointed out, we need better roads, a functioning water supply, improved education & a cleaner island. Has anyone seen how dirty and destroyed the island looks these days? Look at the absolute mess they made in laying the water pipes on the ridge road. Why did they have to know over so many trees?