$7M later, two deadlines passed, still no BVI Airways flights!
It was announced earlier this year that the Premier Smith led Administration funded the return of the airline with only the promise of direct flights between Miami, Florida International Airport and the Virgin Islands’ Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport located at Beef Island.
No flights, no money back, taxpayers hold the bag!
If the flights never take off, according to the agreement between Government and BVI Airways, the VI taxpayers will not get a dime back.
BVI Airways has missed yet another deadline for its first direct flight, which was to have started yesterday November 1, 2016 according to what Premier Smith told the public. The other promised take off date was October 1, 2016 which never happened.
BVI Airways still being grounded has happened just as senior Opposition Member Hon Andrew A. Fahie (R1) predicted in the House of Assembly (HoA) a few months ago.
More spin, no flights!
Instead BVI Airways yesterday November 1, 2016 announced to selective media houses that its first BAe Avro RJ100 regional four engine jet named, the Spirit of the Virgin Islands, will arrive in the territory at the end of this week.
It avoided information to the public as to why it has missed another flight deadline but claimed that the plane will be engaged in “customary and usual flight demonstration and ground personnel training.”
Immediately after, almost in coordination, Premier and Minister of Finance Dr The Honourable D. Orlando Smith, in a press release from London, said he is pleased with the announcement by BVI Airways that its first BAe Avro RJ100 regional four engine jet, the Spirit of the Virgin Islands, will be arriving in the Territory at the end of this week for customary and usual flight demonstration and ground personnel training.
However, Premier Smith failed to give taxpayers a new date of expected ‘take off’ of the Government funded airline.
Many approvals still outstanding
It was unearthed in the HoA via questions from the Opposition a few months ago that BVI Airways has still not received many of the approvals required to fly commercial flights from regulators in the USA and the UK.
While many tax payers are outraged with the deal of a $7Million bail out, an opportunity not available for failed or failing local businesses, Premier Smith continues to insist that his bailout deal of BVI Airways for direct air access to the territory is “a game changer for our economy - both in tourism and financial services.”
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