Airline issues undermining airlift gains — Skelton

Territorial At-Large Representative Ronnie Skelton has warned that ongoing airline service problems are leaving travellers stranded, even as the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) government continues to tout increased airlift to the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport as one of its major achievements.

Speaking recently in the House of Assembly, Skelton acknowledged that though expanded air service is “a good thing”, it is being overshadowed by serious challenges that are costing residents extra money.

“Anyone inside or outside this House will recognise that good and bad exist together,” Skelton said. “Yes, it’s a good thing we have airlift at Beef Island. But when you dive into what is happening to your people, your people are being left in other Caribbean islands, and they have to fend for themselves. Some of them don’t even have money for hotels and have to concentrate on booking their own tickets.”

Skelton referred to late-announced flight cancellations — often caused by mechanical failures that leave passengers unable to cancel hotel bookings or make alternate arrangements. He added that larger, developed countries would instruct the airlines to address these problems and called on the BVI to do the same.

“In the great America, they can’t get away with it. But out in the third world, they can,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure these things are eradicated so they don’t destroy the ‘shiny city on a hill’ you all talk about,” Skelton added.

He also warned the government that the gains from improved airlift could be undermined by the frustration and hardship caused to travellers.

When faced with criticism over the slow pace of infrastructure improvements in the territory, the VIP government has repeatedly pointed to expanded airlift as a key success of their term, highlighting new routes and increased connectivity as vital to the tourism sector and overall economic growth.

They have said that while occasional disruptions are inevitable in the aviation industry, the benefits of greater access to the territory far outweigh the drawbacks.