The Tribune

By EARYEL BOWLEG

ebowleg@tribunemedia.net

RECENT Bahamasair mechanical troubles were due to issues with the landing gear, a fuel pump, and loading on several planes, said the airline’s managing director Tracy Cooper.

In a press statement released on Friday, the airline informed customers of mechanical delays with three planes resulting in “extraordinary delays”.

When contacted, Mr Cooper said yesterday: “We had some problem with I think it was one of the jets and two of the ATRs and they were matters that I can’t speak specifically to them because it would be too technical, but matters we tend to see from time to time with mechanical issues with aircrafts. Typically you wouldn’t have them two or three at a time that would cause your schedule to be that disrupted, but really aircraft are mechanical things so we do have mechanical issues on the aircraft periodically.”

When asked about the mechanical issues, the airline’s chairman, Tommy Turnquest, was mum on what the issues were, but stressed that Bahamasair was back up and running on Saturday. “I don’t wish to say anymore than that. We just wanted to advise the public that we did have some difficulties on Friday which is not unusual for an airline like ours. We’ve got a fleet of nine planes and sometimes these things happen unfortunately,” he said.

“We were able to get everyone to their destination…..if we’re over a certain amount of time outside of weather-related that we feed or accommodate passengers as required and we’ve fulfilled our obligation.”