High demand! Rymer says multiple flights added for AA launch to BVI
There has been an unmistakably high demand for direct trips between the US mainland and the BVI, and this has resulted in increased bookings for accompanying inaugural flights with American Airlines in the coming weeks.
This is according to Communications and Works Minister, Kye Rymer, who told the House of Assembly yesterday that there are now two inaugural flights instead of the single initial flight that was previously announced for the airline’s June 1 launch in the territory.
The new seasonal flight, operated daily by Envoy with an Embraer E175 aircraft, is expected to begin transporting passengers between the BVI and Miami on the US mainland from June 1 and will run through the summer, restarting again in November.
“The demand is so high,” Rymer said, “that they have committed to five additional flights for the month of June.”
Rymer explained that the territory will now see two flights landing at the Terrance B Lettsome International Airport on June 3, 9, 16 and 30 after the airline had previously committed to single flights on those days.
“I invite our entire territory to join us at the airport on June 1. Walk with your flags, walk with your family, your friends. Let’s give them a BVI welcome when American [Airlines] lands here in our territory,” Rymer said.
Premier Dr Natalio Wheatley, who previously described the airlift deal as a game-changer for the territory, had commented last year that the achievement was a result of a refocused approach towards air service development taken by his government.
He said this was aimed at optimising the airport’s current facilities and capacities while simultaneously fine-tuning what he referred to as the airport’s master plan to meet future demand.
The government boasted back then that the airline’s interest was so great that there was no need to spend any monies to induce them or to offer concessions or minimum seat guarantees.