Historic Commercial Plane Landing
In what was described as an historic moment, the first largest commercial aircraft with passengers onboard to ever land at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Beef Island did so on Friday, December 20.
The arrival of Titan Airways' Airbus 318 direct from Halifax, Canada, will be one of many to land at the Beef Island airport, as Premier Hon. Andrew Fahie said that discussions are ongoing with other airlines with planes of this size.
An elated Premier said that his administration intends to address the long-standing issue of airlift in the BVI even before a decision is made about extending the runway.
“I keep making the statement that we are going to maximize what we have before we think whether we can afford or whether we are going towards the full lengthening of the runway, which is an ongoing discussion,” the Premier stated.
He continued, “but right now we have a 318 like this that can land on our runway coming straight from Canada…landed here and still had about 2,000 feet left when it landed, shows that we are in for big things here in the BVI with planes of this size.”
Premier Fahie disclosed that, through the BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA), government is in discussion with other airlines to have planes of this size make direct flights within a year between the BVI and other destinations including U.S mainland.
He also said that the BVIAA is making efforts to acquire land in close proximity of the airport to allow for future plans.
Officials from BVIAA believe that today’s historic moment is proof of the realistic possibilities for direct flights between the BVI and the U.S mainland and a major step towards increasing the Territory’s airlift capacity.
An elated Premier said that his administration intends to address the long-standing issue of airlift in the BVI even before a decision is made about extending the runway.
“I keep making the statement that we are going to maximize what we have before we think whether we can afford or whether we are going towards the full lengthening of the runway, which is an ongoing discussion,” the Premier stated.
He continued, “but right now we have a 318 like this that can land on our runway coming straight from Canada…landed here and still had about 2,000 feet left when it landed, shows that we are in for big things here in the BVI with planes of this size.”
Premier Fahie disclosed that, through the BVI Airport Authority (BVIAA), government is in discussion with other airlines to have planes of this size make direct flights within a year between the BVI and other destinations including U.S mainland.
He also said that the BVIAA is making efforts to acquire land in close proximity of the airport to allow for future plans.
Officials from BVIAA believe that today’s historic moment is proof of the realistic possibilities for direct flights between the BVI and the U.S mainland and a major step towards increasing the Territory’s airlift capacity.
