BVI still in dialogue with other airlines — Rymer
The BVI government continues to be in conversation with other airlines besides American Airlines in attempts to boost the territory’s airlift capacity, Works Minister Kye Rymer has revealed.
The government recently announced plans by American Airlines to have direct flights between Miami and the BVI by June of next year.
“We are still in dialogue. We are still pushing forward,” Rymer told reporters at a recent press conference.
While not offering much specifics about the number of airlines or companies that remain interested, Rymer explained that meetings with the Airlift Committee have recently been conducted with regional airlines such as WinAir, Caribbean Airlines, and other carriers further afield.
Regarding next steps about a planned Terrance B Lettsome Airport expansion, Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley said this was a matter for further discussion among government members and other technical personnel.
“As you know, we’re not a mass tourism destination. So really, it’s really a question for us as a leadership team to get together and to determine, exactly the way we want to go about it,” Premier Wheatley said. “Of course, we do have to speak to the experts at a technical level to see exactly how we achieve what we want to achieve.”
According to the Premier, an expansion of a further 5,900 feet to the airport’s runway will allow the territory to receive ‘long haul’ flights from cities such as New York and Boston in the United States, among others.
He explained that most mass tourism destinations ideally have a runway in the region of 8,000 feet which allows them to land bigger planes such as jumbo jets that can make long haul flights from as far away as Europe.
“I think the approach that the minister, myself and the leadership team have discussed is about optimising what you have. You show the opportunities for growth and development, go out to perhaps 5,900 feet, and then of course when you optimise that, then you see where you go from there,” the Premier said.
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Why he aint having talks with the Brathwaites?
WHEN LAST YOU HEAR THEM FLYING, THE BIG BROTHER MADE A MESS.
so double that runway length for Anegada. 3 mile runway on that island and any large fully loaded plane could land and take off. BVI would have the longest runway in the Eastern Caribbean.
Perhaps because they are confused
Is one airline even sustainable? Should we look listen and learn from the one that is willing to take a chance? For me its a little too early to be encouraging competition.
It’s bloody ridiculous when will the good folk of the BVI realise its not about mass tourism but bespoke high value client that come in and drop 10k at a time, used to be a regular visitor chartering yatchs then staying in a villa or one of the few upmarket resorts after. No longer, cruise ship traffic just killed Tortola for m. Thankfully, VG still has it. Expand the runway to get an A220 or the likes in and leave it at that it’s quality not quantity, alas you don’t do an amazing job with the small number of tourists you do get, hate to think what the experience would be if your doubled or trebled the figure. Time to wake up and realise you have to treat people right, then you have a successful and sustainable industry
Why not leverage the airport in STT and provide VIP arrival services including:
– end to end transportation: including a large welcome booth, approved taxis and baggage handlers at the airport and ferry docks to the new high speed luxury ferries with entertainment) with frequent departures and entertainment at the modern departure centers
– “warm welcoming” arrivals at different ports training the staff to be friendly and welcoming rather than snarly and suspicious
– Easy ticketing
It sound good but do we have the boarding/hotels to accommodate so amount visitors? (1) infrastructure needs to be in place (2) proper hotels/ needed which at one point i did talk to Hon. Flax-Charles
Which ferry are you advertising for