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by pltm
(PLTM) - Financial Secretary, Mr. Neil Smith has come out in defense of BVI Airways over the continued delays in the direct flights taking off between Miami International Airport and the TB Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island.
The flights were scheduled to commence in October of last year, but the regulator in the BVI, Air Safety Support International (ASSI) has not given the green light as yet for the airline to fly commercially between BVI and Miami.
"With these things (regulators), something always coming up. It doesn’t say that somebody isn't doing what they're supposed to do. But it’s a regulatory process and it takes a while. But I know that they are doing their best to finish quickly, both the regulator and airline," Smith told the media this week.
Government has pumped $7M into the airline startup.
The Financial Secretary said that following ASSI's approval, the airline has to also seek other approvals from overseas---the U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). He said safety comes first.
"As far as we are concerned, that we haven't been able to give the Premier a date because regulators, they are going to check and if they find that something is wrong, you have to rectify it. We don’t know how long that is going to take, but what I can say is that they are working tirelessly because we need to make sure that we have this airlift problem (addressed), and we need to get it done."
He added, "Because we want this airline to be safe."
The airline has set up an office in Road Town, located on level two of Commerce House along Waterfront Drive, which serves as the hub for the executive management team.
The company has also established an operations office at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, which is being managed by Stations Manager, Roy Canter, and two aircraft have already been acquired.
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