Premier meets with American Eagle Officials to discuss Airlift

~~Adz:Right~~Roadtown, Tortola- Premier and Minister for Tourism Honourable Ralph T. O’Neal, OBE has put forward several proposals to American Eagle in an attempt to resolve the serious airlift problem facing the Territory.

The Premier did so at a meeting in Puerto Rico last Friday in which he had discussions with officials of the airline company. Friday’s meeting came on the heels of the drastic reduction in American Eagle’s flights between Beef Island and San Juan, which decreased from 10 to three daily flights on September 3.

Honourable O’Neal told the Department of Information and Public Relations the BVI delegation to the meeting lobbied for “the re-instatement of one additional flight on Fridays and Saturdays, the earlier departure of the first flight from Beef Island to San Juan, the later departure of the final flight from San Juan  to Beef Island, an increase in the number of daily flights from a minimum of three to a minimum of five or six, and the re-instatement of an overnight flight with an early morning departure.”

According to the Premier, the airline has given assurances that it will increase daily flights into and out of the Territory in peak periods like Christmas and Thanksgiving in November, one of the peak travel weekends for Americans.
The Premier described the meeting as very productive. “On the whole we thought it was very good that we went out to San Juan and had this discussion,” he said.

He said the reduction in American Eagle flights stems from a “decrease by almost half of American Airlines flights between the U.S mainland to Puerto Rico and the relocation of almost 50% of American Eagle’s fleet to markets within the United States.”

Honourable O’Neal said the Territory is not the only destination affected by the reduction in American Eagle flights and that the Dominican Republic is the only other Caribbean destination with more daily flights.
He explained that under the current arrangement, any “additional flights to the BVI, when available, will require the signing of a revenue guarantee agreement between the Government and American Eagle.”

The Premier and Minister for Tourism said Government also plans to pursue discussions with Cape Air and the companies offering ferry services between both sets of Virgin Islands as it continues to address the airlift problem.

He reiterated his intention to establish a permanent airlift task force to keep Government abreast of developments regarding airlift into the Territory.

Honourable O’Neal publicly thanked those who have worked diligently to address the airlift situation. The BVI delegation attending the Puerto Rico meeting included Acting Director of Tourism, Ms. Hadassah Ward; Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association, Dr. Birney Harrigan; local businessman, Mr. Carvin Malone; Managing Director of Little Dix Bay, Mr, Martein van Wagenberg; Managing Director of Nail Bay, Mr. Ajit George and Caribbean/Latin America Marketing Manager Ms. Lynette Harrigan.

A follow-up meeting will be held on October 16 in Tortola. American Eagle’s Caribbean Sales Manager Mr. Michael Rios is expected here for that meeting.

The tourism industry is one of the main economic pillars of the Virgin Islands (UK) and Government is committed to addressing the airlift capacity into the Territory because of its direct co-relation to the performance of that industry.