New aircraft to begin flights from DR to VI by January 4, 2020- BVIAA
![Direct flights between Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic and Beef Island in the [British] Virgin Islands with the Embraer 145 aircraft will be available as of January 4, 2020, according to the BVI Airports Authority (BVIAA). Photo: BVIAA/Facebook](https://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/cache/images/800x_8_80584622_2661709137216343_8105623647227478016_n.jpg)
The Embraer 145 had its inaugural landing at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island on Christmas Day, December 25, 2019.
“We look forward to the increased airlift between Tortola and Santo Domingo in the New Year as Sky High Aviation upgrades to their new Embraer 145 which can accommodate 50 passengers. Direct flights will be available as of 4 January, 2020,” the BVIAA wrote on its Facebook page on December 27, 2019.
The Embraer 145 is one in a series of twin-engine regional jets produced by Embraer, a Brazilian aerospace company.
‘Direct flights between US mainland & VI within a year’- Premier Fahie
The landing of the Embraer 145 at Beef Island from the Dominican Republic came five days after the largest commercial plane to the Territory, Titan Airways Airbus A318, touched down at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island for the first time on December 20, 2019.
The Airbus A318, a chartered flight which actually originated in the UK, flew directly from Canada to the VI with passengers. It had landed in Canada to refuel.
The recent inaugural flights have signaled loudly what is to come for airlift in the Virgin Islands in 2020.
Premier and Minister of Finance, Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1), speaking to Government Information Service (GIS) on December 20, 2019, said the VI would maximise what is there before thinking about lengthening the runway, which he said remains an ongoing discussion.
According to Premier Fahie, the BVI Airports Authority (BVIPA) is in discussions with airlines with aircrafts such as the size of the Airbus A318 to make direct flights, with possible flights from the VI to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and then to Miami, USA, with a direct flight on return to the VI, “And some going from here straight to Miami and back.”
Hon Fahie said the Virgin Islands will realise such flights within a year.
Caribbean Airlines
Further, in his 2020 Budget Address during the Second Sitting of the Second Session of the Fourth House of Assembly (HoA) on November 19, 2019, Premier Fahie announced that the BVIAA advised it is in discussion with Caribbean Airlines Limited to add the Virgin Islands to their route network.
“There is optimism that this will happen in 2020.”
According to Premier Fahie, transportation is a critical element of the VI’s value system as the Territory continues to be the number-one Caribbean tourist destination, according to US News & World Report’s annual ranking of the world’s best vacation destinations.
“People are longing to visit the BVI. But of what value is this if the logistics are not there to deliver the payoff on their desire?”
Silver Airlines
The Territory’s leader then revealed that Silver Airways is set to add their 48 and 72 seater ATR aircraft to the VI by April 2020.
“This will significantly increase airlift to and from the Territory and make it more convenient to connect with other destinations. The marketing strategy of these two airlines involves promoting the calendar of events – in the BVI’s case, our events such as Emancipation Festival, Lobster Fest, Virgin Gorda Easter Fetsival and our regattas – to boost their bookings. This will help the BVI to increase our visitor arrivals, providing direct benefits to our hotel, accommodation, and hospitality sectors.”
Silver Airways is a US airline operating around 100 daily scheduled flights between gateways in Florida and The Bahamas.
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20 Responses to “New aircraft to begin flights from DR to VI by January 4, 2020- BVIAA”
We can hope they’ve improved by then
No, people are longing to STAY in the BVI. But of what value is this if the logistics are not there to deliver?
Sex tourism : Prostitution and human trafficking.
Child sex tourism and child trafficking is most popular. WOW!,!!
HIV/ AIDS is the# 2 cause of death in the DR.