BVI Wraps Up Talks with LIAT over Additional Flights

The British Virgin Islands government has concluded discussions with LIAT to provide three daily flights to and from San Juan, Puerto Rico, as talks continue with American Eagle.

Minister for Communications and Works Julian Fraser says that as a result of long negotiations, LIAT now operates two daily flights to San Juan and one return flight from San Juan, effective September 8, 2008.

In other efforts to resolve the airlift problem in the Territory, Premier and Minister of Finance Ralph O’Neal, discussed several proposals with American Eagle at a meeting in Puerto Rico on September 19.

The Premier is scheduled to hold similar discussions with Cape Air and the companies offering ferry services between both sets of Virgin Islands as Government continues to address airlift capacity in and out of the Territory. The Premier will have a follow-up meeting with American Eagle on October 16.

The government says it recognizes the significance of adequate airlift to support the tourism industry and remains committed to restoring the airlift capacity to the territory.