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BVI Airways gets US approval to fly

Posted By: tpcook

BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 01:49 AM

BVI Airways has approval from USA authorities to commence flying Miami to Beef Island Airport. Looks like flights will start in June.
Posted By: rcork

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 03:12 AM

waiting to see how it goes. Hopefully well!
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Posted By: Deepcut

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 09:48 AM

Great news.I am looking forward to considering it for my next trip. Another thread was discussing this a month ago and concern was the "What If's" of mechanical problems canceling flights. Previous reports were they purchased 2 jets (1 is certainly sufficient to do 2 round trips per day).
I reached out to BVIAirways with my question,did receive a response:

[color:"red"]"Wes, I apologize for the late reply but this ended up in our spam box. I’m a sailor too, as are several of the owners/investors. Our business plan includes 1 extra jet on standby at all times. Obviously if the spare plane is in Tortola and the mechanical issue is in Miami, there will be some delay, but we won’t put passengers in a position where we’ll say “sorry, and the next 5 days are sold out so you’re on your own”.
[/color]
[color:"red"]We will start with 1 flight a day on F, Sa, Su and Mo, but have the desire and capacity to quickly add flights as the awareness and demand builds once we launch service. We can easily flight 12-15 flights a week once we get going, and possibly many more 12-24 months out if the load factors support expansion.

Initially, flights out of Tortola will be around 830 am, and flights out of Miami will be 4pm, but again, we will be adding flights quickly if these flights fill up - which is highly likely!

I hope this helps, and feel free to reach out for any additional information. You might also want to visit our website - www.gobvi.com - and sign up for our email alert which will let you know when we obtain the US approvals and can begin ticket sales and first flights."[/color]
Posted By: warren460

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 10:01 AM

Thanks Wes
Posted By: BigGreenFan

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 10:19 AM

One extra jet on stand by at all times strikes me as a huge financial burden. There aren't many businesses that can sustain 100% redundancy in their capital assets.

Nevertheless, it's in their businesss plan so maybe they have figured a way to make it work. And it's a product whose time may have come, so best wishes for their success.
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 11:22 AM

The spare jet is a bit of a fallacy. They are not going to fly it to Miami to cover for a broken jet in MIA. Cheaper to buy the passengers tickets on another airline. You would also have the issue of paying standby crews.
What will make or break this operation is the ability to fly both ways non stop all the time without having to block off to many seats. We will see how they do in that regard shortly.
G
Posted By: ligot

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 11:22 AM

I'm sure a lot of us will be watching closely. Even if the flight schedule doesn't fit I'm hoping the competition brings down the SJU-EIS costs. The competition should be a good thing.
Posted By: denverd0n

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 12:51 PM

Quote
GeorgeC1 said:
The spare jet is a bit of a fallacy.

Yeah, I think so, too. The whole "spare jet" thing sounds a lot like a very convenient explanation, so long as no one looks into it too closely. Real easy thing to say, but how will it play out in reality?

I don't want to sound like a nay-sayer, and I really do hope that this airline ends up being profitable and stable. But my skeptical side says, "wait and see."
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 01:16 PM

Schedule seems odd to me. The flight is what, 3 hours? I get the 4 PM flight out of Miami. That makes sense, for people to be able to connect to Miami. But why leave the BVI so early?? If the same plane is supposed to turn around, it seems they could leave at a more reasonable time?
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 01:31 PM

That is a odd departure time. It means that boaters will not be able to come in that morning and catch the flight. Leave at 11:30 AM and arrive MIA about 3pm. Depart MIA at 4 as currently scheduled. 1 hour is enough turn time.
G
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 01:56 PM

Yes, very odd. Of course, I think we all know that this thing is not really intended for boaters, but allegedly for business travelers.
Posted By: RonP

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 02:20 PM

I am reading that they still need FAA and DHS approvals. There was a statement that DOT approved in part because FAA said it had no objection, so maybe those are formalities, but it doesn't seem that they are quite there yet.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 02:38 PM

I was wondering if there was a link to the story online somewhere?
Posted By: RonP

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 02:54 PM

Here are a few. They all say it differently. The middle one seems more skeptical.

http://www.bviplatinum.com/news.php?articleId=27051

http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/e...irways-approval

http://bvinews.com/new/us-approves-bvi-airways-gives-explanation/
Posted By: GeorgeC1

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 03:09 PM

I don't really have a handle on how many charter boat customers fly down each day. I know the number would be greater on the weekend. It would be interesting if a charter company much like cruise lines would pair up with a Airline flying the CS100 to offer direct service. The aircraft could make that flight easily from any eastern US hubs. Delta has them on order and JetBlue is rumored to be considering the airframe. A charter company could offer package prices again like the cruise industry.
If they were smart they would connect baggage from the departure to boat and boat to destination. It could easily be done. Imagine checking your bags leaving the US and having them arrive on the boat shortly after you. On departure you place them in the cockpit and they go to your final destination. I believe customers would pay a substantial premium for that type of service beyond the ferry cost savings.
G
Posted By: Orange_Burst

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/02/2017 03:48 PM

Has there been any discussion on what a round trip ticket from Miami to EIS is going to be?
Posted By: Deepcut

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/03/2017 12:39 AM

I too wondered about the early morning departure/ late return. I am hoping, and I believe their business plan is to get 2 jets going back to back.

I would really like an early afternoon departure from EIS and a mid afternoon arrival to EIS... But a lot of the connection into Miami from other locales is going to fuel your own personal desires.

I would encourage all to reach out to BVIAirWays and let them know what schedule would make you want to fly BVIAirway. .. I want it to be a good/competative option for getting into Beef Island.
Posted By: Will_L

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/03/2017 01:01 AM

That early departure---prevents anyone renting a villa or staying in a resort on Virgin Gorda from getting to the flight without taking the 5 am speedy's ferry meaning you likely get up at 3 something . Not optimal

There is no airport I know of prone to delays due to thunderstorms in afternoon/evening landing and departures than Miami. Perhaps that is why they want the early morning departure from BVI. But I still am very skeptical of an airline with subsidy from the BVI, two airplanes and no track record of performance. Most of the people taking those flights will be making connections --arriving late or not having aircraft ready to depart will be a huge deal that a two bus transportation company will have a hard time handling. Nobody will be bending over backwards to help this fledgling carrier when they have unserved passengers.
Posted By: HillsideView

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/03/2017 01:29 AM

This whole airline deal isn't geared toward the tourist crowd, but the business crowd. Business travelers are willing to spend more $$$. Think that would explain the flight times.
Posted By: denverd0n

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/03/2017 12:27 PM

I took the subject line at its face value, and assumed that they now have all the permissions they need. Nope. Not even close. Permission from the DOT is only the first step. They still have a ways to go before they are going to be fully authorized to fly into and out of the U.S.

So, I still have to say, I will be very surprised if they are actually flying from Miami by June. (Unless, of course, they are talking about June of next year!)
Posted By: mess

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/03/2017 01:36 PM

The early morning flight is also more convenient for those travelling on business from the BVI as it allows easy onward connections from Miami.
Posted By: Deepcut

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/04/2017 01:39 AM

I can't imagine there is enough "business travelers" based in the BVI to justify a flight per week. I would think that Charter business is key. It will be interesting to see how BVIAirways adjust their schedules to match the needs of the Charter business flyers and what incentives they will offer to attract these flyers.
Posted By: Carol_Hill

Re: BVI Airways gets US approval to fly - 05/04/2017 02:20 AM

Don't know, doesn't make sense to me, but this whole concept of extending the runway, etc., supposedly has to do with satisfying business travelers. We'll see!
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