Non - Stop to Tortola from Miami

http://www.caribjournal.com/2016/01/18/f...irgin-islands/#

Actually, that would be a Non-Stop flight.
That is different - and better - than Direct.

The airlines are running as fast as they can to all nonstop flights. It will not happen overnight and it will never fully come to fruition. But, the cost are too great to be competitive anytime you add airport costs, landing fees, the time cost and schedule risk plus the aircraft cost to go up and down. The unraveling of hub and spoke will be very painful for many.

Some would prefer the flight actually stops on Tortola, having directly left Miami. Not to much to ask?

I suspect given the age of the aircraft and lack of maintenance capability on that type in the US or Caribbean most will be happy to just get to Tortola. At this point it's still a paper airline anyway. It will be stopping for gas going to Miami in SJU often if they do get one in the air.

Agree - hard to run an airline with just travellers to BVI and only 4 flights a day - soon to be another boondoggle.

http://bvinews.com/new/more-delays-no-application-to-fly-made-with-usa/ Here we go - no one in the government seems to have a financial education.

"The government, which is pumping $7 million into the privately owned BVI Airways, initially stated that the airline would have started flying between the US and the BVI by October. That time was pushed back to November."

They have not even submitted anything to the FAA yet. So by "November," they must mean November of NEXT YEAR!

Looks like they might have bought or leased a single plane, I'm sure that is likely contingent on getting route and government authorization. Beyond that I see a facebook page and a website. There is a link to "airline captains wanted" that goes to "not found" .

It would seem that so far they are dependent on money from the BVI government and not fulfilling their commitment with payment obligations under the agreement.
This does not look good. I hope I am wrong but it screams "undercapitalized" and quite possibly will never get off the ground. The BVI will just be out their investment.
It would have made much more sense to have subsidized fares or flights made. It seems like the BVI government is playing the part of start up capital provider for a startup with no track record of operations.

We have a hard enough time picking good investments in Toronto let alone something like this - there goes 7 million down the hole.

It seems there is no maintenance station for that aircraft except in British Columbia. Long way from Miami or BVI. So if (and it is not even an if but a when) the plane has a problem, who is going to repair it and where do the spare parts come from and who stocks them?

The planes are cheap so buying one is not a problem. Maybe you can lease them with maintenance included. That would make sense.

Sounds like this will not happen this year if at all.
If I were doing this I would go for a wet lease to get things started and then go to a dry lease maybe a year later.
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Having been delayed several times over the years because of mechanical problem on a plane, thinking about depending on a one plane airline is problematic. I've "disembarked" and spent a few hours waiting for Southwest to get another plane for the flight. I've been delayed on American and Delta more than once because they had to find another plane due to a problem..can be as much as a warning light malfunction.....and when did delayed because another crew was needed because of rules of hours.

If this is a government investing into a startup one plane airline ..they are likely in serious jeopardy of losing all their investment and having no credible air service. 7 mil would do wonders for the ferry service.

I see the biggest problem is one flight cancelled and their goes your charter. I would not hold my breath for this to come to fruition.

No kidding. Doesn't GlennA's comprehensive ferry plan call for far less than 7M in capital?

Actually about $5 mil equity on a $20 mil total investment would be enough to build a first class fleet of six 100 passenger fast cats. Politics and conflicting personalities combined with no money allocated for influential pockets makes my proposal dead from the start.

The last two months down here observing the local politics close up leaves me shaking my head. It may be best to just enjoy the islands while we can and not concern ourselves with their future.

Imagine owning a business as opposed to being a tourist.

Sadly, I've come to the same conclusion over the last couple years. very sad.