New airline to start operating in BVI in another 6 to 7 months — Premier
Premier Andrew Fahie said his government is confident that another airline will be operating commercial flights in the territory by the end of the year.
Speaking on the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) radio show Let’s Talk this week, Fahie said the new airline should be flying into the territory in another six to seven months.
The Premier said in-person traffic at the airport has increased tremendously over the last few months as the territory lifted most of its travel restrictions and tourists are beginning to return to the Virgin Islands.
“We have sent out a letter of interest to all the major airlines and even minor ones that want to become major. American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue, Best Jets just to name a few. All across the board telling them we are going to expand the airport. We are in the process of the technical work and making sure we get certain things done until then,” Fahie said.
“We did this before verbally, but we are going at it more aggressively now. We have some of them express interest but we want to make sure it is done across the board so anyone picks up the file they can see everyone had an opportunity to come on to this,” the Premier continued.
Favourable response
He said two undisclosed airlines have responded to the letters and acknowledged receipt. Fahie added that one of the responses has been favourable for the territory.
“One of them said they feel very strongly that they can fulfil this with the length of the airport that is there. They are looking at a jet that will be able to hold 142 people. [However] coming here full, they say they may be able to bring [up to] 135 and that’s one company,” Fahie said.
There have been talks about plans made by the government to improve the visitor experience at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport and also expand the runways to accommodate larger planes.
Last year, the Premier said talks were in progress between his government and American Airlines to enhance the BVI’s airlift capacity. At the time, Fahie noted one of the airline’s main concerns was landing on a wet runway at the Beef Island airport facility because it is relatively short.
Currently, Cape Air, Seaborne and interCaribbean Airways offer frequent connecting flights to the territory from the United States and other Caribbean Islands.
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I don’t believe one word from the mouth of Andrew Fahie. Election will be before 7 months so he wouldn’t have to answer for this untruth until after election. If he loses then he would say it didn’t come because he lose. If he wins he wil say it delayed but by then he done win so the public can’t do anything about it. BVI people get these misfits out of government. They are ruining the country.
Solar panels, planes,free shuttles…..when is the train coming?? LOL
After the bridge is completed lol
Better we use our very own BVI Airways. We already had $7 Millions plus invested. No criminal investigation convictions so guess it is still a bone fide operation. No?
NDP took us for a ride, where are all the studies that have been done on the airport?
The VIP is picking up where DR.Pickles left off and trying to play us for fools?
Listen guys, Tortola is not the same country it was 6 years ago. We are not joking with political leaders any more. If you feel you can fool we with that Air Bumblebee story because elections are coming, you will get a wake up call.
135 people?. As the former Leader of Opposition and now Premier once said. “When the cow fly over the moon.
“One of them said they feel very strongly that they can fulfil this with the length of the airport that is there.”
So why are they planning on spending so much money, to say nothing of the environmental impact?
6 or 7 months is low season and peak of hurricane season, Everything is smoke and mirrors with our Premier, we never get all the facts
YOU COULD NOT OF SAID BETTER / @ SERIOUSLY) I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF THAT COW ,BEFORE I BLINKED
lies faster than a horse trot
‘You put da devil on horseback and he’ll ride straight to hell’
I sure hope their service is better than InterCaribbean
After the CoI and the next election….
Mr. Premier,
6 or 7 months?? 3 Bubble Bees, 2 Turtle Doves and 1 Chicken Hawk will fly off TB Lettsome Runway first…
You remember that?
It was this same member while in opposition who said that about North Sound when the then NDP government was trying to set it up for the sea plane service.
Don’t forget the jackspanias. He had this so rehearse that he could list them out with numbers every time he spoke about it.
So he is in effect saying that there is an airline willing to fly a fully loaded 140 seat jet aircraft into and out of the Beef Island airport on a runway that is less than 5,000 feet long. Said plane is bigger than the American airlines jet currently flying into Dominica and Anguilla. Those aircraft have 76 seats and their runway is in each case longer than ours.
It is also not long ago that the same Premier said that American Airlines would not consider jet service here on the current runway particularly in wet conditions. But, we are now asked to believe that there is an airline, presumably not American who is willing operate on the current runway a with a jet bigger than the jets going to Dominica and Anguilla! That makes sense? Mr Premier it is basic common sense and your people are not fools. Dominica and Anguilla have gone streets ahead of us and it has probably just sunk in that we are the only island in the Caribbean without direct air access to the US Mainland. But your efforts are desperation at best at this point. It is all too little too late. Poor us!
Great, now customs can treat whole planeloads of people like trash instead of relying on only ferries to bring them tourists to treat like garbage. Looking forward to it.
Where the money coming from? I thought BVI was broke before COVID and even broker in the midst of COVID. Where is the money coming from – West End Ferry Terminal, Airport run-way expansion, …?
And I have $7.2 millions dollars for you.
“when fowl-cock geh teeth”
Best Jets doesn’t even appear to be an airline! It’s a charter company.
Best Jets will bring in wealthy tourists. Better than shovelling thousands of poor, infected, $10/day cruise ship victims into the Territory.
You won’t be the Premier anymore when ever a plane with more than 75 passengers lands and takes off on the Beef Island runway.
when all them private jets was up the airport Johnson and co…new years day was Like 20 plus…look g this and that.Every minute premiere going VG…no airport for commercial.. just brief cases full of dough..coming out the airport.. ndp
Jet blue coming…