After
an encouraging resumption of operations in May 2009, FlyMontserrat is
appealing to Caribbean Governments to introduce open sky agreements in
the region, as this would not only ease their operations, but boost
intra-regional travel as well. Nigel Harris, who operated the airline
until the Soufriere Hills volcano closed down Montserrat’s airport in
1995, told Horizons that he is currently operating on three islands
–Montserrat, Antigua and Anguilla- and would like to extend his
itinerary to as far as Tortola. The airline just received its ICAO
certification. They operate two Jetstream aircraft and two Islanders,
and plan to add one Twin Otter to their fleet. The airline also opetates
air ambulance flights.
Mr. Harris said FlyMontserrat is copying the low cost model that has
proven successful for airlines like JetBlue. “We have 12 employees and
everyone multitasks. We are keeping our overhead low. I clean aircraft.
Our passengers are on first name basis with all pilots and other
workers, because we have a high repeat audience. Customer satisfaction
is high,” he said. “We had an excellent start and our pilots are really
working their socks off. We now have to get to that critical mass.”
But, said Mr. Harris, not having an open sky agreement in the region, is
proving to be a bottleneck for his expansion. “Every flight I operate is
an international flight and that causes a lot of hassle. It really is
one of the last barriers for more efficient operations in this region,”
he said. He said he wants to add St. Kitts & Nevis and Tortola flights,
but is facing the red tape that comes with this.
Mr. Harris voiced his concerns at the Network Latin America conference,
which was held at Westin, St. Maarten on December 6 - 8, 2009. His
appeal found support from Mark Darby, former CEO of Caribbean commuter
airline LIAT and Mr. Moreira of Brazilian low cost carrier Gol, who both
took aim at the non-existence of open sky agreements which make
operating in the region expensive. “What will work for expanding service
are bilateral agreements. I really cannot see why any island would want
to hamper the creation of open sky agreements, aside from the need to
monopolize their industry and uphold protectionism,” said Mr. Moreira.
After
an encouraging resumption of operations in May 2009, FlyMontserrat is
appealing to Caribbean Governments to introduce open sky agreements in
the region, as this would not only ease their operations, but boost
intra-regional travel as well. Nigel Harris, who operated the airline
until the Soufriere Hills volcano closed down Montserrat’s airport in
1995, told Horizons that he is currently operating on three islands
–Montserrat, Antigua and Anguilla- and would like to extend his
itinerary to as far as Tortola. The airline just received its ICAO
certification. They operate two Jetstream aircraft and two Islanders,
and plan to add one Twin Otter to their fleet. The airline also opetates
air ambulance flights.
