BVI News

New carrier, fees, and bank being introduced at airport

The BVI Airports Authority will be introducing a number of initiatives to boost revenue, which has been declining at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport.

The airport is expected to receive additional revenue through a prospective aircraft carrier slated to begin operations in the territory.

The new carrier is projected to bring a 25 percent increase in revenue to the airport.

Director of Finance for the Airports Authority, Canya Stoddard made the announcement when she appeared before the Standing Finance Committee recently.

Increased fees

According to the 2018 report on the deliberations of the Committee, other initiatives to boost airport revenue include increasing certain fees at the airport.

The BVIAA will be imposing administrative fees for ‘simple airport infractions’ such as security breaches, speeding on ramps, and being on ramps without a jacket.

“The increased fees were approved by Cabinet but the fees were not gazetted,” the Standing Finance report said.

Commercial bank

Another revenue-boosting initiative is to have a commercial bank at the airport.

The bank will be used to ‘attract persons from neighbouring communities and outer islands to the airport’. The BVIAA hopes this will further cause persons to utilise other airport products or services.

While addressing the Standing Finance Committee, the BVIAA’s Director of Finance said the airport has been losing revenue even before the September 2017 hurricanes.

She said the net loss in 2016 was $1.1 million. The airport recorded additional losses of $1.2 million in 2017, pre-hurricanes Irma and Maria.

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33 Comments

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  1. hint says:

    get better food service at the airport…proper internet usage… a/c building insects bites are crazy in am/pm time and modernized security checkpoint area because what i have witness even a dog can smuggle something.

    • Allbaloney says:

      The airport is our poster child for why nothing works in our country. There is no clear policy, no planning, no transparency, no proper level of training and management.

  2. Seriously?? says:

    I’m laughing so hard, I just peed my pants!!!! “Administrative fees for infractions like no jacket on the ramp?” ….A bank?? This will REALLY bring in some big $$$!!!

  3. Not2Sure says:

    That is so BVI. “To increase revenues, we will start fining people with increased fines for every little thing we can find.”

    That will certainly help drive people away from using the airport.

    • Bandit says:

      they need the bank at the airport to put the money when they take money away from people illegally trying to take money out.

  4. LOL says:

    So people will pay to park to use a bank at the Airport? Good luck. I do however think it may be beneficial to travelers and workers in the area, but we will see. I’m more excited about this new carrier as this is much needed.

  5. Albion says:

    I always worry when they use vague terms like “a prospective new carrier” but they are not confident enough to say who it really is.

    If they say “we are in discussions with American Airlines” that is one thing. If they say “we found another ‘BVI Airways’ type start-up”, then that is quite another.

    Smoke and mirrors.

  6. Lol says:

    You need a proper restaurant inside the waiting area. You can’t come back out and get something to eat or drink. You can’t even walk with liquids pass the security check. Have a place inside the waiting room. People also want comfort. AC would be good. Once people fee comfortable in a place they will spend money

  7. Phoenix says:

    “being on ramps without a jacket” Will someone please tell me what that means?

    • Hmmm says:

      That would probably mean the workers in the field violating security protocols or something.

    • Honestly says:

      It’s basically to identify the workers from passengers. It’s a safety accessory to help pilots see them during poor visibility that’s why its called a reflective vest. I think that is what the people who work and the airport explain to the standing finance committee should have said, not a jacket.
      But those fees are all security related, that means people at the airport are not doing their job, than to fine people who shouldn’t be allowed to go on the ramp period.
      Again they will only fine workers and not crew who fly the planes.
      Imagine a flight crew of a billionaire paying a fine, they will say they not coming back here for this!

    • lol says:

      That’s the staff, I know UK airports fine and discipline staff for being on the ramp with no high viz jacket

    • Rubber Duck says:

      Be those bright green things I expect. How clueless can —- be when —- idea of raising extra revenue is to fine — own staff.
      The so called restaurant sucks. You can’t get a coffee , they don’t know what a cappuccino is. You can hardly get a beer. Let it out to the highest bidder with proven food service experience. (That means W—- will get it of course)
      Where are the souvenir shops , the duty free ( BVI really is sir not like the lies at London) Get someone with experience abroad in to run it. ( oops that won’t work because he will be no one’s cousin).

    • HADDO says:

      No idea. What is a ramp in this context?

  8. WTF! says:

    We have such innovative thinkers in key positions. I laugh! “Hey, let’s fine our minimum wage workers to increase revenue”…..”oh yes, that’s a great idea – high five” SMDH!

  9. well sah says:

    FROM THE TIME THEY STARTED CHARGING FOR PARKING THINGS WENT DOWN HILL..THANKX TO RS

  10. [ON] Beast Mode says:

    What a load of horse manure – no it smells like Coxheath!! Everyone who could in Govt for the last 30yrs has raped this country and abused their position because everyone did before them and got away with it. If a Standards of Public Management Law was actually passed we would have to allow those with PR to run for the LA because there would be no other options other than direct rule. When the f**k are people going to wake up and see its a free for all at the trough, always has been and that those they vote for are nothing but parasites, thieves and frauds? Probably never as long as our youths are pumped out the system as illiterate failures to society who need handouts, blys and promises that they are too daft to see through from Pirates that call themselves Honorable.

  11. Sam the man says:

    So the airport has been making a loss for the past two years and is losing even more now after Irma and what does the “No Direction Party” want to do? – make it much bigger then it will lose even more money!!! you just can’t make it up…….lets hope the new airline hasn’t been paid $7m plus like the other one that never even showed up to deliver flights and wanted even more free money!

    • Albion says:

      One thing is for sure: if it involves either airlines or airports, you can be pretty sure that the Government will do the wrong thing.

  12. HA! says:

    What a Wuk!!!!! anyone wanting to build the new airport will have to be given major concessions…..

  13. looking money says:

    most business places increase revenue by having more customers. we ok with decreased customers and higher fees

  14. Brighter days says:

    More fees again,great and your paycheck stagnant!

  15. Hairdo says:

    What a bunch of Sh—….she had to go to Standing Finance with some new money making iniatives and these are the D—– S— she come with….Lawd Send Help

  16. Hark the harol says:

    Powers that be please have pictures of the baths .white bay beach on Jost .copper mine in the departure and arrival at the air port food for thought

  17. Uncle Buck says:

    Can’t increase the volume of passengers, can’t build a bigger airport, losing money, so let’s start introducing petty fines and increased taxes. Make the visitors pay for our airport, our own elected officials embezle all the public funds.

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