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Seaborne Airlines taking flight in VI market!

Seaborne Airlines, a regional carrier based in St. Croix, USVI, is still in its infancy stages having on December 8, 2012, introduced daily round trips flights between San Juan's Munoz Marin International Airport to the Terrance B. Lettsome international Airport at Beef Island, Virgin Islands. Photo: Provided
Optimistic that there will be even more progress with time and their ever expanding marketing initiatives, Seaborne Airline Director of Marketing Micheal J. Ritvi told Virgin Islands News Online that since the introduction of the service to the Virgin Islands there has been a steadily increasing market.
Optimistic that there will be even more progress with time and their ever expanding marketing initiatives, Seaborne Airline Director of Marketing Micheal J. Ritvi told Virgin Islands News Online that since the introduction of the service to the Virgin Islands there has been a steadily increasing market. "What we are finding is that we are getting a larger number of connecting flights from the USA for passengers bound for the BVI." Photo: Provided
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI - To say they are having a very good start and are eagerly anticipating even greater success in the very near future, would be hitting the nail on the head for Seaborne Airlines.

Seaborne Airlines, a regional carrier based in St. Croix, USVI, is still in its infancy stages having on December 8, 2012, introduced daily round trips flights between San Juan's Munoz Marin International Airport to the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island, Virgin Islands. This was through a decision brokered between the USVI airline and the BVI Tourist Board in collaboration with the BVI Airports Authority. The new service is also provided to Virgin Gorda.

Optimistic that there will be even more progress with time and their ever expanding marketing initiatives, Seaborne Airlines Director of Marketing Micheal J. Ritvi told Virgin Islands News Online that since the introduction of the service there has been a steadily increasing market. "What we are finding is that we are getting a larger number of connecting flights from the USA for passengers bound for the BVI."

He said that so far the flights between San Juan and Tortola have been very consistent especially at prime time and on peak days, noting that they would love to see an improvement in the number of flights during off-peak periods. 

Noting that they were not prepared to release numbers and figures at this time, Ritvi explained that because it is a new start-up location, they are more focused on achieving their main goal of properly establishing their markets.

He said that unlike the situation at Tortola, the experience at Virgin Gorda is different noting that they have come to recognise that there is a greater need for extensive marketing. He explained that based on the information given to him, since 1993 there was an absence of commercial flights to Virgin Gorda, "this is what I was told, I can't verify this but it is what I was told and basically charter flights go there," he emphasised. 

Ritvi said that currently they are opened to ideas and suggestions from local residents of Virgin Gorda even as the airline seeks to expand on its local advertising on the island. He said that the will be targeting the owners and operators of resorts on Virgin Gorda as well.

The introduction of the airline service to the Virgin Islands comes at a time when the Government of the Virgin Islands has been taking many steps to further develop the tourism sector.

30 Responses to “Seaborne Airlines taking flight in VI market!”

  • talk dat (10/01/2013, 10:14) Like (6) Dislike (4) Reply
    Its Amazing how the government allow another air carrier to come in and do busniess with the Bvi... not Knocking Seaborne or anything .. but it looks really bad for you to help everybody else to busniess but your own people (vi airlink) they refuse to help Reguardless of who they are as individuals. Vi airlinks could have bin our national air carrier... a flag ship airline for the BVI "if only the government would atleast try to assist . instead they find other ways to spend money on things that dont need or if we do take forever to get it done . Every majoy tourist destination has its own flagship carrier but we have to be paying people to bring people when we have people in our own country capable of doing the exact same thing that you employ or make agreements with people outside to do ....when will we start developing a sense of country pride and stick with each other no matter what... Jamicans as bad as they are to each other stick together, spanish as bad as they are stick together but BVIslanders we do the opposite we pull down each other... i pray god have mercy on us because it doesnt look good
    • Foolish (10/01/2013, 11:05) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Help them how? Explain.
      • Hmmmm (11/01/2013, 06:51) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        yes i agree to some terms but if u look at it good vi air link do not have the capasity or quality to carry passengers their flites are rather smaller they are good and some of the best piolet in the vi but they need a upgrade for sure
  • Frequent Flyer (10/01/2013, 10:36) Like (4) Dislike (5) Reply
    Interesting that they are flying with 2 passengers on a flight. Good flight but for heaven sake we cannot fly with minimum 30 lbs and pay $1.00 for each additional lb, unless we are going site seeing. WE in BVI travel to SAn Juan to shop, even when we go for medical reasons we shop. Good fare but too costly to fly with luggage. I wonder how the tourist will manage when they come with their big suitcases full for a 2 to 3 week vacation?
    $1.00 additional per lb is just not cutting it. At least minimium 50 lb and 50cents for additional lb.

    #2, the planes are small and how much luggage can they take? They might have to consider one plane for pasengers an one for luggage? But too, if only 2 people flying at a time, there is more than space for luggage de man!
    • CrucianDIVA (10/01/2013, 18:14) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      *co-sign*
    • Frequent flier 2 (11/01/2013, 19:40) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      You expect cheap fares.....no luggage fees.....and whatever else. Have you ever considered how much it costs an airline to actually takeoff and land along with overhead?
  • ss (10/01/2013, 10:37) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    what is the round trip cost?
  • hey (10/01/2013, 10:42) Like (8) Dislike (0) Reply
    I flew with sea bourne from tortola and to be honest i would fly with them again and again. The landing is smooth as a babies bottom and the service is not to bad at all.
    • redstorm@hotmail.com (14/01/2013, 15:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Love your comment of positiveness, Do you know how I can contact Seaborne airline. I have 20 person need to go off island soon.
  • No (10/01/2013, 11:00) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    We book many flights every month for business and sorry to say Seaborne will not cut it unless they get interline agreements and through ticketing with other carriers, we do not want to collect bags and take them to check in for onward flights in San Juan, they need to be rechecked easily as we do with American Eagle. Also, having 2 tickets in this day and age is crazy, if 1 flight is late and you miss connection noone will help if you on seperate tickets.
    • hemp (10/01/2013, 11:56) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      i think they're working on that. but i agree, that's the worst part of it. having 2 separate tickets and having to transfer luggage. das why they have less people using beef now because of lack of connection. nobody wantt o be hassling with that crap especially travelling with a family and young kids.
  • yea (10/01/2013, 11:02) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    Loving this airline thus far. Really good flying, ontime, EXCELLENT INTRODUCTORY FARES, great customer service, great views due to large windows. Please keep the fare to PR reasonable. Thanks Seabourne!
  • Hmm (10/01/2013, 12:28) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    In regards to Virgin Gorda, more maketing needs to be done for alot of people don't even know about it. You can use Face book, flyers at the different businesses, corners or you can have someone drive around with a loud speaker advertising (lol). You can also have a flight that stop in st thomas first before going San Juan because alot of people would like the option to go to Stt on the plane. I fly Seabourne all the time to go PR the flight is smooth and I dont mind the size of the planes. Honestly I would of prefer if it was located in the Valley.
    • VG (10/01/2013, 14:13) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Do you live in VG? It Doesn't seem so. If you don't know wherre they fly into in VG
      • Hmm (10/01/2013, 17:05) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
        To VG, Its obvious you never flew with them, Let me go into more details for you. Seaborne fly on the Airports and at Sea. What I was referring to when I say the The Valley was the Seaport. I dont care too much for the Airport in VG because of its location,lets be real thats why much planes don't fly there. That hill is dangerous.
  • Frequent Flyer (10/01/2013, 12:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    I flew this airline and it was wonderful. The service is great and the flight is smooth not to mention the fare exceptional compared to the other carriers.
  • small thing (10/01/2013, 13:53) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    that airline is comfortable even for a big girl
  • frequent flyer josiahs bay (10/01/2013, 14:01) Like (6) Dislike (0) Reply
    please check out cape air they take care of everything connecting flights luggage and they even have a cheaper flight when you are going to the doctor or hospital you just have to let the doctors office do your reservation for you.The pilots are great especially female officer scottie you ride in comfort check them out today.
    • yea (10/01/2013, 14:47) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      I like Cape Air too but at the moment there fares are RIDICULOUS and that's the bottom line.
  • ABC (10/01/2013, 14:49) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    Cape Air would reduce their fares even more if they were given the breaks that Seabourne is being offered by this Government.
  • care package (10/01/2013, 14:50) Like (2) Dislike (1) Reply
    come on ndp or vip aint care ah ting bout local air line & ayo done know
  • vince (10/01/2013, 17:22) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    the local company has 2 small planes as far as i'm aware. are they licensed to operate scheduled/commercial trips in/out of usa? do people realize how much it cost to run these things? govt can help where they can but throwing money at it wont help. maybe they should join with the other small outfits and make something decent.
  • VGISLAND (10/01/2013, 17:53) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    As someone who lives on VG and travels fairly frequently on business and pleasure I wish Seabourne well. VG needs reliable air service. The type that departs when advertised. I can only hope Seabourne operates in a professional manner and understands what customer service REALLY means.
  • US (11/01/2013, 08:48) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    you know the funniest thing about this. the chairman of the tourist board is the agent for seaborne airlines....smh!
    • ABC (11/01/2013, 13:36) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
      So what's new, this is the second time around. The darm thing is, this Government will pay dearly in loss of revenue. What a set of nipple suckers.
  • small man (14/01/2013, 00:39) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    everybody has a game; every politician has a game; American and now Seaborne have their games. Who pay to see the games? The small man!!!!! It's good to see VG get some flights man.....they been starving for too long because of the AASI game. Like we have special olympics in the VI Arena.
  • radical (28/03/2013, 19:24) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I fly Seaborne frequently and will remain a loyal customer. The staff is always professional and their aircraft are impeccably maintained. The fares are reasonable and the frequency of service is accommodating as well. If you haven't tried Seaborne you should!


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