Airline promises competition for fares above $500

Bradley Goggin

While expressing hope that BVI Airways will be able to commence direct flights between the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and Miami by June, Director of Flight Operations at the airline Bradley Goggin today gave the clearest indication yet as to what type of fares commuters will be required to pay for the service.

“Everyone wants to know the ticket prices. It will be cheaper and quicker than you currently can get to Miami. We haven’t released any commercial costs at the moment, but I came back from Miami last week and it was over $500 one way. So it’s going to be very competitive,” he told journalists.

Goggin noted BVI Airways has not yet received approval from the US Department of Transportation to operate non-stop flights into Miami, but he said the airline now estimates that it will get such approval within days.

“The docket is currently with the Department of Transport in the US. Hoping to get that stamped by the end of the month. We’re looking for, hopefully, in June to start our operations,” said the BVI Airways director of flight operations.

The airline’s attempt to start flight between the BVI and Miami is being challenged by a local carrier, VI Airlink, which already has made its concerns known to the US Department of Transportation.

Meanwhile, there have been two swing-and-miss proposed dates for BVI Airways to have started direct flights from Terrence B Lettsome International Airport in the BVI to Miami in the United States.

The National Democratic Party government, which has invested $7 million into the venture, previously promised that the planes would have gotten off the ground in October 2016. It later promised to have the flights ready for November 2016, but that didn’t happen.

Hot meal or snacks

BVI Airways, which currently owns two aircraft, said it already has five trained local cabin crew ready for when the flights to Miami get underway.

“The minimum complement is two pilots and three cabin crew for our service to Miami. So two-and-a-half hours, we’ll have a hot meal service for premier class and snacks and drinks for the economy [class], with three cabin crew. So, the service is going to be exceptional.”

“We currently got five cabin crew trained. They all live on the BVI, and they are all local cabin crew which is important for the face of the airline for our passengers to see local friendly faces with a exceptional service,” Goggin further said during a open viewing of the privately owned BVI Airways plane today, April 12.

First Flight

Goggin, in the meantime, told journalists that BVI Airways will use one of its two 97-seat aircraft to transport members of the BVI Athletics Association tomorrow to the Carifta Games in Curacao.

“That will be our first flight out of here (Terrence B Lettsome International Airport) tomorrow… It is the British Virgin Islands Athletic Association so it’s the athletics teams, the coaches, and the supporters and we have a small contingent from the US Virgin Islands coming across; so we’re taking them out to Curacao,” added Goggin. “[We will be] away for the Easter weekend and then back on Tuesday.”

Airline funded by gov’t blocks journalist

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