BRADES, Montserrat January 7, 2011 - The hike in airfares by Fly Montserrat has come as a surprise, says the Ministry of Communications & Works, which is responsible for air traffic regulations. 

A statement from the ministry said that Captain Nigel Harris, CEO of Fly Montserrat informed the department that the airline will not be making any claim for subsidy for the month of January.

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.

“Fly Montserrat has always agitated for  removal of subsidies indicating that they are willing to compete with WINAIR on a level play ground, this was at a base fare of US$74.00 per leg,” the statement read.

“There have been no major increases in oil prices to warrant an increase in base airfare of 34%.  Throughout the airline industry there has not been any such increase in fares attributable to fuel increase.

“Government will continue to put measures in place to ensure that travel between Montserrat remains affordable and that the travelling public is not exploited,” the ministry statement ended.

On Wednesday, Fly Montserrat said effective immediately prices would be increased on its Montserrat/Antigua route. 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.

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.

WINAIR recently announced plans to end its service to the island by January 19th, 2011, leaving Fly Montserrat as the sole airline servicing Montserrat.