The idea of a new regional and international carrier for the Virgin Islands.

The Online media was reporting on a Virgin Islands Saturday Night TV Show: British Virgins Islands Forum, which on May 19, 2012, hosted two native pilots, and had as Contributor, a Yacht Charter Manager, Dick Schoonover, and the fiery Show Host, Edmund Maduro.

The digital newspaper reported that "two Virgin Islands pilots, Neville Braithwaite Junior, and the VI’s first pilot, Linton Wheatley, have begun lobbying for a national airline, and believe such an investment is highly possible and realistic with the support of the government."

More significantly, and speaking on the live Forum- a national television programme that is formatted towards promoting diverse opinions in a discursive, sometimes heated, but incisive, cutting, and across the table atmosphere- Mr. Wheatley pointed to a major opportunity for the country’s businessmen, and myriad stakeholders. Stakeholders such as hoteliers, and resort and villa owners, marina and yacht moorings managers and developers, add expatriate, local, and native air travelers. This opportunity lies in creating a brand new airline and national air carrier, linking the British Virgin Islands to regional and international hubs.

The online newspaper described how in the TV programme, Mr. Wheatley exhorted that "there are almost positive indications that American Eagle will be pulling out of the San Juan to Beef Island run, and vice versa, which leaves the route open to investment, where a national airline for the territory can fit right in."

In essence, a Virgin Islands Airways could bridge the gap, replacing an American Eagle, even a LIAT, as the premier air transporter of Virgin Islanders and travelers beyond these shores, and proffer enormous opportunities in a new airline dynamic in this small Caribbean country.

A new luxury air carrier, efficiently managed, will become a major player in Virgin Islands Travel: a truly regional, and maybe, even international player. This idea of a national carrier and airline business will be a boon to the local aviation industry, creating new business opportunities, such as turning the country into a major Caribbean air freight terminal, establishing better regional air links and networks, offering good jobs in aviation in a tough market, while helping to build a much more robust Virgin Islands tourism and commerce. In essence, this national airline proposal could breathe life into a struggling tourism economy, creating a brand new commercial and technological animal.

Yes, this is huge! And Wheatley further asserted that "lengthening the airport runway," and prospecting for direct flights from an eastern United States hub, even mining for global air links further afield, "will complement a national airline." Yes Mr. Wheatley, this is visionary thinking at its best.

Now, some months back, an anonymous online blogger responded to a news article on BVI News Online written by another Wheatley, this time: Mr. Benito Wheatley. The article of January 5, 2012, was titled "WILL THE BVI GROW IN 2012 AND BEYOND." The blogger’s response to the narrative was a sweeping rendition about a hypothetical regional air route and airline choreography served by a national BVI airline. Yes, this idea is not new.

That online article, written by Mr. Wheatley, also appeared in the January 5 edition of the BVI Beacon newspaper. In any case, and returning to the online blogger, and the writer stated that "instead of expanding the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport, a better step would be to re-establish the country’s own Air BVI to Antigua, St. Maarten, St. Croix and Puerto Rico."

The blogger also suggested that the country "add a new route to Santo Domingo which would serve as another hub. That the Dominican Republic could link the Virgin Islands with all of the Americas as well as Europe:" And when Cuba comes on stream, a Paradise Airways could fly regularly to the largest Island in the Caribbean, creating a critical air and political link of great value, lost, after the US embargo against Castro’s Communist Nation of the early 1960s.

Mr. Wheatley responded, that establishing a National Virgin Islands Airline, although not an alternative to direct flights coming into Beef Island from major capitals and tourism markets, would be a good thing, if it contributed to the competitiveness of these Virgin Islands. In other words it could complement a new and much more robust international airport dynamic.

Mr. Wheatley believed strongly, like this Observer does, that ‘’ direct flights are more attractive and desirable to travelers than connecting flights that are a burden after a long haul flight. "Mr. Wheatley further correctly determined that, ‘’providing tourists with convenience of travel is a major factor in the competitiveness of a tourist destination." A Virgin Islands Airways would indeed be a boon to convenience of travel by plugging the hole left uncovered by unavailable night flights from St. Thomas and Puerto Rico, conveying visitors to Beef Island until till late at night.

Wheatley went on to advise that consideration be given to "tourist markets of the future such as Brazil, China, and India, and how to route travelers from these faraway shores to the Virgin Islands." A Virgin Islands Airways would assist in that proposition, flying into critical hub facilities in the Americas, and then connecting with international flight arrivals and departures to and from countries as far away as China and India. A Virgin Islands Airlines scheduling that meets global carriers from all over the world, flying to and from places such as North America and Brazil, or Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Yes this is ambitious stuff indeed, but certainly doable.

These Antilles must tap into a new Asian and emerging economies dynamic that will affect global travel in ways yet unseen. Yes, a 7000 foot runway may in years to come have to extend to 10,000 feet and beyond.

Now, the most important statement made by Mr. Wheatley was on a negative dynamic in regional air travel that could be described as the arm-lock US airlines hold on the Jurisdiction. He asserted that ‘’American Eagle has cut back on routes between the US and Puerto Rico, which triggered cuts in flights between the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Travelers arriving in San Juan in the mid afternoon now have to wait until 9.00pm for a flight to Tortola.’’ Things will be even worse should American pull out of the Puerto Rico hub altogether, as is now expected.

Presently, a person missing a flight to the USA because they came in late from the Virgin Islands, have the expense and inconvenience of staying overnight in San Juan. Yes, Mr. Wheatley is right in stating that "routing flights through sub regional hubs leaves the Virgin Islands exposed to risks that can have a negative impact on tourism."

This big jet enthusiast could not have said it better than Mr. Wheatley when he went on to write that "having an international runway would give the Virgin Islands greater access to its major markets" and offer these islands greater negotiating power Vis a Vis major airlines and travel groups.

Returning to May, 2012, and Linton Wheatley’s and Neville Braithwaite’s proposal, and a new Virgin Islands Airways should learn from the mistakes of previous Caribbean Carriers. A national airline will have to be a cooperative effort between local businesses, government and international investors. A national air carrier will also require a substantial subsidy, maybe fully subsidized aviation fuel and lubricant, and further incentives to attract private investment.

Another thing: a successful national air carrier cannot be a private affair for a selected few; neither is it a baby of the Virgin Islands Party or the National Democratic Party. AIR PARADISE or whatever the airline is named will be a truly national affair. A national airline and valuable asset written into the national culture and consciousness: belonging to every resident and citizen of these islands. The stakes for the future of Virgin Islands tourism, travel, and commerce are too big to allow this project to become a political football, or money making machine for a handful of businessmen. A national airline will create wealth opportunity for the whole country by helping to build national commerce and Virgin Islands tourism.

The BVI taxpayer must understand that it is in the national interest that this new organization is fully supported by the public, as it will affect the quality of life of Virgin Islanders in the coming years. A national airline becomes a critical cog in the country’s essential and critical national infrastructure affecting the nation in every way possible.

A Virgin Islands Airways, or whatever the new airline is named, will have to be integral to the country’s tourism and commerce, and have sitting on its corporate board key individuals, from critical stakeholder groups, such as hotels, yachting, air freight interests, to aircraft maintenance, and even local passenger representatives.

But above all, it must be managed by the best and the brightest, and offer investors and taxpayers the protection of a fully transparent accounting and financial management infrastructure, add a flexible, accountable, creative, and dynamic management culture that places safety and security as the highest operational priority. It should further have good public oversight, even placing a high public official on the board: the eyes of the taxpayer.

Yes, an airline for paradise: a new West Indian regional carrier, focused on 5 star and luxurious travel, going back to an age when flying was a very charming affair, with excellence of service and attractive cabin crew to match. A business run by a chief executive and global ambassador with savvy, flair, and critical business capabilities: an international deal maker, and formidable networker, creating opportunities for the new airline in every corner of the globe.

To be continued

Connect with Dickson Igwe on Twitter and facebook