Boston flight will not happen this month, says new transport minister
The Government’s hopes that an airline would provide a direct service to Boston this month have been dashed.
Wayne Furbert, the new Minister of Transport, revealed at a press conference yesterday that the service will not happen.
He said Coral Jet, the Bermuda-based airline hoping to start the service, was unable to do so now.
“We have had some challenges — there was one particular airline that was supposed to be starting up around this time,” Mr Furbert said. “Unfortunately it is not able to do it.”
He said Coral Jet was a private company and “the board or whoever the individuals are were not ready at this particular time to move ahead”.
Mr Furbert revealed that the Government was “having discussions with a company called Bermuda Air — they are on the island this week”.
“Will they be ready for this particular winter? We’re having discussions to see how that goes.”
He declined to say who was behind the company, adding: “I think it’s best to have discussions with them when they come public. I’m not sure I will reveal exactly their model.”
Mr Furbert said it was “an idea that a group has — the question is, do they become more prominent and move ahead quickly, or do they look at the model and say if it does work or doesn’t work?”
“Discussions are taking place with the airport authority and others to see whether it’s viable.”
But he said his “first priority is airlines” and emphasised that the island needed more airlift.
“We need to get it back in line. The question is, can we get it in the next two weeks? That’s impossible.”
He added: “Our goal is to have discussions with the airlines — JetBlue, Delta, all those who are current partners, and also individuals outside the normal group.”
Mr Furbert said the loss of a Boston connection was felt by many, and that people had been stopping him in the street urging for it to be reinstated.
“If I could make it happen, it would happen tomorrow. But it’s not for me to make that call. It’s for us to talk to the schedulers within the airlines themselves, talk to the individuals making decisions with those particular airlines pulling out, and see whether we could find a compromise going forward.”
Mr Furbert said data from the International Air Transportation Association and International Civil Aviation Organisation would be used to “forecast post-Covid recovery”.
He said the development of a flight connection to the Azores using SATA Airways could serve as a “template” for boosting airlift.
“Every viable airline partner and option is being considered and continuous consultation is currently taking place.
“The Boston route is a primary priority and forms part of the discussions. The Ministry of Transport remains vigilant to source a sustainable solution.”
• What do you think – how does the lack of a Boston flight affect you? E-mail news@royalgazette.com
• To read the minister’s statement in full, click on the PDF under “Related Media”.
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