When will BVI Airways ever fly? $7.2M & counting! More questions
The airline’s latest spin was announced today, June 7, 2017 to selective media houses that, in addition to Miami, the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) has granted the airline permission to operate nonstop flights between Beef Island and New York City. Additionally, the carrier has received authority to operate nonstop flights to Orlando, Florida, USA.
However, the airline is still awaiting additional approvals to begin direct flights between Beef Island and Florida, which has missed some three deadlines as promised by their chief lobbyist Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith (AL).
The last promised date provided was this month, June 2017, and it is now unlikely that they will start flying the route that local tax payers paid out some $7.2M for.
More questions & confusion
At the next Sitting of the House of Assembly (HoA) of June 13, 2017 Leader of the Opposition Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) will have more questions.
The Opposition Leader wants to know why were the funds disbursed to BVI Airways by the Government of the Virgin Islands (VI) earlier than the dates set forth in the schedule of the signed agreement between both parties, and if the Government has received from BVI Airways an account of how the money received by the airline from Government was spent.
With the confusion over the aircraft purchase or lease of airplanes, Honourable Fahie wants to know from the Premier and Minister of Finance if government’s money was used to purchase the planes why do they appear to belong to another company which is not part of the agreement.
Further, Dr Smith must answer if the planes are owned by a company named Raptor and were purchased with government money in the name of BVI Airways, why is the airline now paying to lease planes that were already paid for.
In keeping the focus on the bailout airline deal, the Virgin Islands Party Leader wants to know if the planes were purchased with government's money in the name of BVI Airways and then transferred to Raptor, how much money did Raptor pay BVI Airways, and whether BVI Airways sold the planes to Raptor at a profit or a loss and has that money been accounted for.
Will it fly the $7.2M route?
On Tuesday June 13, 2017 Hon Fahie also wants to know, if BVI Airways is in full compliance with the contract signed between BVI Airways and the Government of the VI, and if not, what specific areas are they not in compliance with and what actions are being taken by the Government of the VI to ensure compliance.
There continues to be many questions sounding the deal where government has given away some $7.2M, first described by Premier Smith as an investment, and a few months later labeled a subsidy, in exchange for direct flights between Miami and Beef Island.
According to the deal, if the plane never flies the route the Government, hence the tax payers, cannot get a dime back in refund.
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17 Responses to “When will BVI Airways ever fly? $7.2M & counting! More questions”
Something is very wrong here,
Nothing adds up. They claim they have direct flight approval to New York and Orlando but not Miami. Getting a landing slot in New York is a lot more difficult than Miami. The planes were supposed to be purchased with the money but the registration trail shows otherwise.
Nothing adds up!
I have a feeling this dodo will never fly!
now if they already have approval to fly to orlando why dont they fly until the other routes are approve
somebody do not know what they talking about
maybe they did what LIAT did purchase the planes and then sell and then lease back the aircraft which is a stupid idea in some sence
someone get the tail number and I can check with department of transportation about there application and exactly what approval they have and what is lacking
and who really owns the planes
Serial E3282
Line Number
First Flight 16.03.96
Model RJ100
Status Active
Comments leased from Tronos, named "Spirit of the Virgin Islands"
Registration History
Reg Airline Delivered Status
Not Seen It HB-IXQ Crossair 27.03.96 Left Fleet
Not Seen It HB-IXQ Swiss 31.03.02 Left Fleet
Not Seen It VP-LOS BVI Airways 23.10.16 Active