BVI Airways

BVI Airways
IATA ICAO Callsign
4V BVI DRAKE
Founded 2009
Commenced operations 5 May 2010
Hubs Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport
Fleet size 2
Destinations 4
Company slogan "Your Caribbean Airline"
Parent company BVAirways
Headquarters Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Beef Island, Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Key people Jerry Willoughby (CEO) 2014
Website www.gobvi.com

BVI Airways is a possibly defunct[1] airline of the British Virgin Islands. Its headquarters are located at its hub at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport serving the territory's main island of Tortola with the capital, Road Town. It suspended inter-island operations in late 2014, shortly after a change of ownership to concentrate on a non stop schedule directly to the United States.

In July 2017 the airline made most of its staff redundant,[2] and in March 2018 it was alleged that at least one of its aircraft had been sold off to a third party, Net Tune Airwaves.[3] A number of controversial allegations have been made about the airline in a lawsuit.[4]

History

BVI Airways was founded by in 2009 and started operations in May 2010, initially serving the popular Beef Island (EIS) to St Maarten (SXM) route three times per week. In September 2010 the airline began flying some services on behalf of Winair, adding Dominica (DOM) to its route network.

In March 2014 the airline changed ownership with Jerry Willoughby taking over the company from Luke Smith.[5] Willoughby was a former Delta Air Lines Captain and announced plans for bigger aircraft and an expanded route network, including plans to link Tortola directly with Miami International Airport (MIA).

In January 2016 it was announced by the Premier of the British Virgin Islands that a partnership was formed to launch flights starting in winter 2016-17 direct to Miami.

Destinations

The airline is based at Beef Island Airport (EIS) in the BVI and did serve St Maarten (SXM) and Dominica (DOM) on regular scheduled services up until 2014.[6] The airline also offered extensive charter services throughout the Caribbean.

In 2017 the airline was granted a revised Air Operator Certificate enabling it to start services.[7] Starting June 2017 international flights between Miami (MIA) and British Virgin Islands (EIS) were intended to start, with further destinations to be announced.

Fleet

BVI Airways' initial fleet consisted of two 19-seater British Aerospace Jetstream Super 31 commuter turboprops. The new non-stop service to Miami will make use of the British Aerospace Avro RJ 100 jet with the Avro RJ 100 being a later model version of the British Aerospace Bae 146 jet. In October 2016, BVI Airways received its maiden airlines type ARJ-100 aircraft naming BVI Airways with two more to be delivered.[8] Once regulation plans are completed this aircraft will make the first non-stop international flight from Tortola to Miami in many years. However, at the present time, it appears there is no non-stop scheduled passenger jet service between Tortola and Miami according to FlightAware.

Government Funding

In January 2016 the Government of the British Virgin Islands announced that it would be investing US$7 million into the airline.[9] In July 2016 it was reported that there would be a small delay in the commencement of direct flights to Miami.[10] Other proposed dates for commencement have come and gone.[1] According to FlightAware, there is no scheduled passenger airline service being operated between Tortola and Miami with jet aircraft at the present time.

In July 2017 the airline implemented wide-ranging redundancies, casting doubts upon its future.[2] Shortly thereafter Hurricane Irma struck the Territory causing widespread disruption to air carriers for an extended period of time.

In December 2017 the BVI Government served notices upon the airline accusing it of being in material breach of the $7 million contract it had signed with Government.[11] In February 2018 it was reported that the Government had still not taken any steps to enforce its claims,[12] and in July 2018 a Government minister gave a press conference saying they "could not locate" any of the principals of the airline.[13] In March 2018 opposition politician Andrew Fahie called for a Commission of Inquiry into the investment, alleging that the money is now irrecoverable.[3] He later described the payment to the airline as a "scam".[14]

Redundancies

In July 2017 BVI Airways announced that it was laying off all of its staff due to cash shortages.[2] In a press release the airline indicated that the step was necessary because the airline had depleted most of cash reserves before it had begun flights, but expressed the hope that the layoffs would be temporary.[2]

Lawsuits

In a lawsuit filed in the New York courts between the present and previous owners of BVI Airways, a number of serious allegations of misconduct were made in relation to the running of the airline.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 "Will BVI Airways ever fly? Date remain unknown on 'clear for take off'". Virgin Islands News Online. 19 December 2016. The controversial bail out deal where a defunct airline that left owing the British Virgin Islands Airports Authority (BVIAA) close to US$100,000 is in the news again. The National Democratic Party (NDP) Government pumped some $7M of tax payers monies into the defunct BVI Airways, with a promise for direct flights between Miami, Florida, USA and the Terrence B. Lettsome International Airport at Beef Island. The public has been given three start dates for when the first flight was to commence; at the end of October 2016, the other end of November 2016 and the final December 2016. To date none of the dates have come to pass and the public, the media and the Opposition remain skeptical about the Government's investment on the taxpayers back.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "We need money to fly – BVI Airways lays off staff". BVI News. 18 July 2017. Retrieved 23 July 2017.
  3. 1 2 "Call Made For Commission Of Inquiry Into BVI Airways Saga". BVI Platinum. 5 March 2018.
  4. 1 2 "BVI Airways: Death threats, embezzlement & the deliberate attempt to 'crash' the airline". Virgin Islands News Online. 1 August 2018.
  5. ↑ http://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-News/Airline-News/BVI-Airways-has-new-ownership/
  6. ↑ "BVI Airways suspends scheduled services". BVI News. 31 December 2017.
  7. ↑ "BVI Airways Cleared for Take-Off". Airliner World (June 2017): 17.
  8. ↑ https://www.BVI Airways adds maiden aircraft
  9. ↑ "BVI invests $7M in airline owned by bank". BVI News. 12 January 2016.
  10. ↑ "Premier lauds new airline deal; Miami flight on course". BVI News. 18 July 2016.
  11. ↑ "Gov't issues notice of breach to BVI Airways". BVI News. 14 December 2017.
  12. ↑ "No Real Steps To Recoup $7M From BVI Airways". BVI Platinum. 12 February 2018.
  13. ↑ Smith, Davon (11 July 2018). "We should've invested locally ǀ Gov't can't reach BVI Airways". BVI News.
  14. ↑ "It's A Scam". BVI Platinum. 3 April 2018.
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