BRADES, Montserrat (January 6, 2011) – Owner of Fly Montserrat Captain Nigel Harris announced on Wednesday that effective immediately ticket prices on the homegrown airline have been increased.
Prices have increased US$20 on a one-way ticket to Antigua and US$ 40 on a roundtrip ticket to Antigua on Fly Montserrat.
Captain Harris has cited the rise in fuel prices over the past several months as a reason for the increase as well as the discontinuation of the Government of Montserrat’s subsidy of the airline.
Since the airline’s inception in 2009, the government subsidized two flights or four movements daily of Fly Montserrat. “The current seat guarantee is four on each movement outbound and inbound passenger capacities of six or seven respectively. This agreement expires on January 31, 2011,” explained Access Coordinator Vincent Hippolyte.
The new prices are US$ 124 or EC$ 335 one-way which includes the US $25 Passenger tax and US$ 223 or EC$ 605 round trip.
ZJB Radio Montserrat and the online media forum Spirit of Montserrat have received increased public outage at the fare hike. Many like Leandra Silcott believe this will make it much more difficult for the everyday traveler to visit Antigua for shopping or medical reasons. Others see the cancellation of flights by Winair as of January 19th as the main reason for the increase which puts the island at a disadvantage with only one air carrier and no competition to keep prices within reach.
Montserrat News