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VIP Gov't in discussion for return of American Airlines to VI

- said length of runway @ TB Lettsome International Airport remains a concern for the airline
American Airlines operated flights out of the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport on Beef Island before pulling out of the territory on March 31 2013, after more than 25 years of service, due to a decline in flights post-September 2011. Photo: Internet Source/File
Notwithstanding the challenges that plague the territory’s aviation industry, such as the need for an updated, longer runway, Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has been in discussion regarding the return of American Airlines to the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook/File
Notwithstanding the challenges that plague the territory’s aviation industry, such as the need for an updated, longer runway, Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has been in discussion regarding the return of American Airlines to the Virgin Islands. Photo: Facebook/File
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- Notwithstanding the challenges that plague the territory’s aviation industry, such as the need for an updated, longer runway, Premier and Minister of Finance Honourable Andrew A. Fahie (R1) has been in discussion regarding the return of American Airlines to the Virgin Islands.

The airline’s last flight out of the territory was on March 31, 2013, and the airline said the phase-out after more than 25 years of service was because there was a decline in flights after September 2011.

The airline commenced service to the territory with a 19-seat plane in September 1986 flying from Puerto Rico, and it upgraded to a 64-seat ATR 72.

Discussion ongoing for some time- Premier

Premier Fahie said during the VIP Let’s Talk on Tuesday, July 28, 2021, that the discussions with the carrier have been going on for some time.

He said this was even before Anguilla’s recent success in negotiating direct flights from the US mainland to its airport.

“There are some factors that must be known because some persons just like to speak, where our airport is some 800 feet shorter than Anguilla,” he said.

He noted that “one of the areas that they (American Airlines) have concerns with us is that the length that we do have, they can come in, but they are concerned that if they come in full, and it’s raining, and it's wet that they cannot land and they don’t want to take that chance. So we have been working with them, and we have had more meetings to see what we can narrow down.”

Plans for the airport expansion has been discussed for many years, and Premier Fahie said the plan would eventually come to fruition.

American Airlines is expanding its base in the region and has also added Dominica to its new route.

21 Responses to “VIP Gov't in discussion for return of American Airlines to VI”

  • Advice (29/07/2021, 09:07) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    You’ll need some good advice on this one sir!! The market changing but we have to be faithful
  • ok (29/07/2021, 09:29) Like (10) Dislike (3) Reply
    How much is this one going to cost us?
    • Mini Mouse (29/07/2021, 14:12) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
      So you expect something for nothing? Go back to Lala Land please
  • Priorities (29/07/2021, 09:32) Like (18) Dislike (3) Reply
    I think AA’s veiled message is that the passenger load factor was too low then. The current pandemic is not going to make it any higher. Cheaper and more cost efficient to have a high speed ferry from St.Thomas. Do all the customs and immigration paperwork on the way over. Use the money saved from airport expanion white elephant to invest in education and health care. As I recall the last set of bids for airport expansion were in the $ 200 million range. If Pier Park is anything to go by, final costs likely to be in the $ 350 million range ( or about $ 10k per inhabitant).
    • You don't get it, do you? (29/07/2021, 11:42) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
      Only Stt benefits from this, stop preaching this. There is no load factor, look at how many Silver/Seaborne flights a day... Between 30-34 seats * 3 flights a day. What is one flight direct from MIA-EIS with 50+ passengers once a week will be detrimental?
      Anguilla has less Seaborne flight than we do and they are getting a direct flight, you do the math.
      I know the runway situation is bad, not enough and restricted, but something has to be done. The STT option is not feasible for the BVI if we have to maintain our tourism product. Stt pockets the taxes, taxi, and hotel profits over us. We are moving backward thinking this is what we want.
      • Lucifer (29/07/2021, 16:20) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
        Yes but how many of those Silver/Seaborne flights actually end up going? They are possibly some of the most unreliable carriers going and when you book there is no guarantee you will end up travelling
      • Priorities (29/07/2021, 21:43) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ You don’t get it: only STT benefits? It seems to me the only one’s who’d benefit in if there was a BVI based ferry service would be taxi drivers. You could get around that by including a shuttle transfer service. That business could be owned and operated by BVI folks born in the US. You also missed out on the part about using the monies saved for education and health care that would benefit the BVIs instead of making a very large bet that the costs will be be recouped. A $300 million note at 2.5% runs about $1.5 million a month. So if you had 200 pax a day 30 days a month every month, the airport expansion fees would be about $ 250 per pax on top of the price of the ticket. The and Dominica flights are 2x weekly with 76 seaters, and don’t start until December. If full that’s about 640 passengers a month. In any event, you can build all the runway you want, it’ll still come down to the load factor.
  • Bongo woman (29/07/2021, 09:46) Like (8) Dislike (2) Reply
    Maybe put the money where it’s really needed …like good medical training, ventilators, medical supplies ..etc
    People are not coming to the BVI if we keep on dying , and as you know it is going to be the new “norm“now dealing / traveling with viruses in this extent .
    Dealing with guest or tourists is one of “A “priority , but we have bigger walls to climb.. before extending the run way and bigger seating planes flying in .

    Please do vaccinate, one way in the good direction , that will take the stress and trauma from the nurse and Doctors we have working hard .

    I want to Thank them by this message .

  • wow (29/07/2021, 09:55) Like (22) Dislike (3) Reply
    Oh really, look how long we asking for direct flights. All of a sudden, we’re getting jealous. So we weren’t going to talk to ANY airline, until we saw someone else do it.
    We finally see the impact of having direct flights once another country can take away our tourism product due to poor airlift.
  • Wait (29/07/2021, 10:23) Like (16) Dislike (0) Reply
    Until one of these major airlines acquires new state of the art passenger jets that can safely land 100 passengers in the rain on the short Beef Island runway. Eventually aircraft technology will solve the problem NOT the BVI government!
  • Expansion (29/07/2021, 10:35) Like (6) Dislike (6) Reply
    Years have traveled the Puerto Rico Route, wanted to avoid the effort needed to travel by way of St Thomas; even with the Puerto Rico route being unpleasant, it felt like they had very little respect for Caribbean People, just rude.

    A few years ago I started using the ST Thomas route, it was much cheaper. My issue with St Thomas is the taxi drives, they seem to have a need to go deeper into your pockets and almost give off the vibe of we don't like taking the Locals, me assuming its about how much some TIP.

    Tips for me is a displeasure, and its not because I don't want to tip, its the expectation of a large tip.. why tip when you got paid. I understanding tipping at restaurants and normally tip 20-30% but others who received a payment for their services shouldn't act like you owe them, especially taxi drivers who do nothing but sit on their ass and turn a wheel for 5-10mins to the airport.

    So I'm in support of reasonable expansion.
  • American Airlines (29/07/2021, 10:46) Like (13) Dislike (1) Reply
    Thank you for this. Negotiate this one well. Make sure those three advisers that you plan to hire make do good on this one. Btw I think a millions could furnish some of schools that are in need of furniture or what about the mini hospital in VG that needs equipment, a million dollars could have bought stuff for it.
  • we doomed (29/07/2021, 11:30) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.caribjournal.com/2021/07/28/turks-and-caicos-frontier-airlines-antigua/amp/
  • Hmm (29/07/2021, 12:19) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    I’m sorry I’ll stay catching them from USVI , nice & cheap
  • Easy Fix (29/07/2021, 13:53) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    So run the plane with a smaller load that will be safer...really? OR have Anegada set up as the landing airport for direct International and fast ferry the people to each island. With only 2 direct flights a week as per their current schedule to AXA and Dominica it wouldnt be that hard.
  • Hmmmm. (29/07/2021, 14:08) Like (1) Dislike (1) Reply
    Hope they get people who no about negotiating to negotiste on our behalf and not give away our money..They like to say "If you want us to come you have to ensure us 75% Seating Capacity going and coming, if not the BVI Govt will have to pay for the remaining seats"...Believe me, the news is out there that the BVI is easy money to have....
  • Planes (29/07/2021, 14:45) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    bring back the ATR 72s !
  • 1000 feet of runway? (29/07/2021, 15:29) Like (1) Dislike (3) Reply
    I think BVI will need much more than 1,000 feet of runway to attract major airlines and especially AA. If AA pulled out on 2013 as a result of declining flights resulting from 911 in 2011 what would make us think that they will have any real intrest any time soon (post Covid pandemic) in returning to the BVI? But a better question would be, what is it about Anguilla and Dominica that has attracted them? I believe we really need more than 1000 feet of runway. We must have capacity to accommodate a continuous flow of passengers. Therefore our tourism infrastructure needs some serious upgrades before we even consider moving passengers in and out. Consider the number of rooms available in Anguilla, the cobtinued development of hotels in Dominica. Then look at BVI again with a longer runway and see what our future looks like then. Oh! And Do Not Forget... AA actually pulled out almost immediately after they demanded/ requested an airport extension which we did. Once bitten, twice shy.
  • You. To smaet (29/07/2021, 17:41) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good job de brown bommer
  • E. Leonard (29/07/2021, 19:22) Like (2) Dislike (0) Reply
    These delicate negotiation outcomes must be positive for both AA and BVI. A primary factor for an airline starting or continuing a route is passenger load factor, regardless of how modern the air and land sides of an airport are. Every passenger airline has a fix cost for taking off and landing that is covered with paying passengers; cargo airlines, load charges. In addition to passenger load factor, for the safety of air crew, passengers, and people and facilities on the ground, an airport should have safety factor built into the runway length, ie, clear zones, spproach zones. It is important to note that if passenger load factor revenues are not adequate to cover operating cost, government may have to provide subsidies.
  • ? (01/08/2021, 19:56) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    I thought we spent 7 mil for a plane for this particular reason.....


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