Beautiful Virgin Islands

Sunday, Jul 06, 2025

Premier Announces Plan For Direct Flights To U.S Mainland With Current Runway

Premier Announces Plan For Direct Flights To U.S Mainland With Current Runway

Premier and Minister of Finance, Hon. Andrew Fahie has announced that at least one airline is willing to operate direct flights between the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the United States (U.S) mainland with the current runway at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport.

“This is a good time to let you also know that we are expecting to have a major boost to the airlift in the Virgin Islands in the next few months,” Premier Fahie told residents during a meeting at Cappoon’s Bay last evening, December 29.

He added, “Your government is working. Your Government and the BVI Airports Authority have been in discussions with airlines and at least one airline has given strong positive feedback as it relates to flying into the Terrance B. Lettsome International airport with a larger, longer-range aircraft and landing on the runway at his current length.”

Technical details have been worked out and you will be hearing more about this soon.

“With God’s help simply put you will soon be able to fly from the BVI straight to the mainland whether Miami or Fort Lauderdale and back. This is your Government working for you,” the Premier stated.

He did not disclose the name of the airline although it was said last year that airport officials were having discussions with American Airlines (AA) for direct flights with the U.S.

“What I can tell you is that we can look forward to increase visitor arrivals at the airport, making greater use of our existing infrastructure while we are working on extending the runway to accommodate the larger airplanes. We have to make what we have in our hand work for us now. This is not just good management; it is innovative management by your Government as a team. And it is in line with our approach to maximize the use of our airports,” Premier Fahie stated.

Under Pressure To Deliver Direct Flights


Last July the Virgin Islands Party (VIP) administration came under pressure from residents when AA announced direct flights from Miami for Anguilla and Dominica.

This prompted the Government to disclose that high-level talks were underway between the BVI and AA for flights from Miami to the territory.
Premier Fahie had pointed out that the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport runway is some 800 feet shorter than Anguilla and that was one of the areas for concern for AA.

“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,” Premier Fahie had disclosed last July.

The issue of direct flights with the U.S has been on the agenda of successive Governments for over two decades. The most recent attempt was under the National Democratic Party (NDP) administration which initiated the controversial BVI Airways Project that eventually run aground before any commercial flight took place.

The NDP Government had poured $7.2M of taxpayer money into the project that has since faced a police probe and most recently became a subject at the United Kingdom’s Commission Of Inquiry which is looking into allegations of Government corruption.

In December 2019, history was created as the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport welcomed its largest-ever commercial flight to the territory.

An estimated 60 passengers arrived on Titan Airways Airbus A318 on a direct flight from Canada.

Increased Airlift


At the Cappoon’s Bay meeting last evening, the Premier boasted about the strides Government has made with regards to airlift.

He shared that the Augustine George Airport in Anegada is now approved for night flights while upgrades at the Taddy Bay International Airport on Virgin Gorda has allowed for direct flights with Puerto Rico.

According to the Premier, the extension of the Terrance B. International Airport is inevitable especially with a range of transformational initiatives to come on stream including medical schools.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
Music Banned by Henry VIII to Be Performed After 500 Years
Steve Coogan Says Working Class Is Being ‘Ethnically Cleansed’
Home Office Admits Uncertainty Over Visa Overstayer Numbers
JD Vance Questions Mandelson Over Reform Party’s Rising Popularity
Macron to Receive Windsor Carriage Ride in Royal Gesture
Labour Accused of ‘Hammering’ Scots During First Year in Power
BBC Head of Music Stood Down Amid Bob Vylan Controversy
Corbyn Eyes Hard-Left Challenge to Starmer’s Leadership
London Tube Trains Suspended After Major Fire Erupts Nearby
Richard Kemp: I Felt Safer in Israel Under Attack Than in the UK
Cyclist Says Police Cited Human Rights Act for Riding No-Handed
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
AI Raises Alarms Over Long-Term Job Security
Saudi Arabia Maintains Ties with Iran Despite Israel Conflict
Musk Battles to Protect Tesla Amid Trump Policy Threats
Air France-KLM Acquires Majority Stake in Scandinavian Airlines
UK Educators Sound Alarm on Declining Child Literacy
Shein Fined €40 Million in France Over Misleading Discounts
Brazil’s Lula Visits Kirchner During Argentina House Arrest
Trump Scores Legislative Win as House Passes Tax Reform Bill
Keir Starmer Faces Criticism After Rocky First Year in Power
DJI Launches Heavy-Duty Coaxial Quadcopter with 80 kg Lift Capacity
U.S. Senate Approves Major Legislation Dubbed the 'Big Beautiful Bill'
Largest Healthcare Fraud Takedown in U.S. History Announced by DOJ
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Political Dispute Escalates Between Trump and Musk
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
US Senate Votes to Remove AI Regulation Moratorium from Domestic Policy Bill
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
Jury Deliberations in Diddy Trial Yield Partial Verdict in Serious Criminal Charges
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
King Charles Plans Significant Role for Prince Harry in Coronation
Two Chinese Nationals Arrested for Espionage Activities Against U.S. Navy
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
×