The Tribune

By Fay Simmons

Tribune Business Reporter

jsimmons@tribunemedia.net

Bahamasair has entered into “wet leasing arrangements” with a US company to temporarily rent planes, and enlisted Western Air’s support, after several of its own aircraft were grounded by mechanical woes.

Chester Cooper, deputy prime minister, and minister of tourism, investments and aviation, said the national flag carrier has been experiencing a “combination of issues” that forced it to take on wet leasing agreements.

He explained that due to mechanical issues some Bahamasair planes were grounded, while the weather and conditions at certain Family Island airports led to flight delays and cancellations over the weekend.

“There have been a combination of issues that impacted Bahamasair over the past few days,” Mr Cooper said. “There were issues involving weather, other issues beyond Bahamasair’s control, certain issues related to airports in Rock Sound in particular, Marsh Harbour, Georgetown, Exuma.

“Bahamasair has also experienced some mechanical issues on some of its planes. They have grounded those planes in the interest of public safety. You would know Bahamasair has an impeccable track record when it comes to safety. So at the moment, the company is engaged with wet leasing arrangements with an entity out of Florida and, of course, Western Air is providing some support as well.”

Mr Cooper added that the airline has recently acquired a new jet aircraft, which will allow it to expand its routes, and he is working with the Ministry of Finance to acquire funding to outfit Family Island airports with lighting so they can accommodate night flights.

He said: “We’ve had a 737, a new one, arrive yesterday. That is going to ease a lot of burden in terms of capacity for Bahamasair, and this is going to help us to expand new routes.

“We are working along with the Ministry of Finance to provide additional funding for further enhancements to all of our airports to allow night flying. I think this is an issue for Bahamasair, given its limited capacity in terms of equipment, having to put all of the routes within daylight timeframe which sometimes becomes extremely challenging.”

Mr Cooper said a team from Qatar Airways is currently meeting with Bahamasair management to lend support and discuss “developing cargo possibilities”.

He said: “We are working along with Qatar Airways, one of the largest and most successful airlines in the world, for technical support and assistance. We have a team in New Providence today, in Grand Bahama today as well, really to look at the possibilities of developing cargo possibilities, as well as to work with the management team at Bahamasair to provide certain support that’s going to really bolster the airline for the future.”

Bahamasair issued a statement on Sunday apologising for flight delays and cancellations over the weekend. It said “adverse” weather in the north-west Bahamas and South Florida, along with equipment and infrastructure challenges, contributed to challenges in their operation.

Mr Cooper said that Bahamasair can be a “very viable” airline with financial, technical and stakeholder support, and he hopes “the worst is behind us” over the recent problems.

He added: “I am confident about the possibilities that Bahamasair has. I think it can be a very viable commercial operation, and with consistent technical support and financial support, and with the ongoing support of the Bahamian staff, we believe that we will make the Bahamian people proud of what Bahamasair can be.

“So this is a work in progress. We are thankful to the Bahamian people for their love and support for Bahamasair, the pride that they exude when Bahamasair arrives. I really want to say a special thank you to the Bahamian people for their patronage.

“Bahamasair issued a statement yesterday, apologising for many of the cancellations that have happened within the last week, and we hope that the worst is behind us and we look forward to continuing safe, productive service from Bahamasair as our national airline moving into the future.”