American Airlines/American Eagle is now looking for regional feed to the Caribbean and specifically to the Virgin Islands and the company is under negotiations to put its official logo on airlines that will be flying as original affiliates for American Airlines, according to Vice President of International Operations at American Eagle, Jorge Ramirez. Photo: American Airlines

This is according to the Vice President of International Operations at American Eagle, Jorge Ramirez, who said the company is under a restructuring process and has decided to completely return its ATRs to the lessors by March 31, 2013.

Mr Ramirez was speaking at the BVI Tourist Board’s annual tourism industry meeting at the Eileene L. Parsons Auditorium, H. Lavity Stoutt Community College (HLSCC) in Paraquita Bay on November 1, 2012.

Noting that there were lots of speculation about American Eagle pulling out and “closing shop” in the Caribbean, Mr Ramirez said he could say that American Eagle is very committed to the Caribbean, to the Virgin Islands and to air service in the Caribbean. He said the company was not known to enter into a territory and pulling out after a short term and noted that American Eagle has a long standing history in the territory dating back to when Executive Airlines flew aircraft into Virgin Gorda.

Mr Ramirez then revealed that American Airlines/American Eagle is now looking for regional feed to the Caribbean and specifically to the Virgin Islands. He said the company is under negotiations to put its official logo on airlines that will be flying as original affiliates for American Airlines. “I know that there would be more than one airlines that will be providing this regional feed to American Airlines to this part of the world, to the BVI.”

Noting that he was excited to be entering into a Joint business ventures with these “new friends and old friends, including Seaborne Airlines, Mr Ramirez added that April 1, 2013 will see significant changes in the manner that the company operates. “A company that owns American Eagle, the [American Eagle] brand, the logo, which by the way belongs to American Airlines, will continue providing service to this beautiful island.”

"60 Islands 1 Beautiful Experience" will also be part of the logo.

Mr. Ramirez assured that he was very committed to the VI as he vacations here as often as five times a year since it is one of his favourite places in the world. “We are very committed to the BVI and will continue to have some sort of presence here, not with the ATRs but we will have it in another fashion.”

It was also disclosed by Mr Ramirez that American Airlines is in conversations with Seaborne Airlines to begin providing services to the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island Airport as well as the airport in Virgin Gorda.

Meanwhile, the Director of Marketing/Sales at Seaborne Airlines, Mike Ritzi, said Seaborne Airlines will on December 8, 2012 have direct flights between San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico and the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.