Better air industry with larger carriers

Barbados could have a more vibrant air transport industry, if its controlling interest in LIAT is used to lure larger regional or extra regional carriers to these shores.Outgoing President of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Authority (BHTA) Wayne Capaldi, in delivering his report at their Annual General Meeting yesterday, said LIAT’s network, particularly in the sub-region, along with its more recent improved financial performance, placed it in a prime position to negotiate rights and ownership with larger carriers, that need effective and consistent access to the Eastern Caribbean basin.He said Barbados stood to be substantially assisted, as it would “most likely give us a seat and a say in board rooms that matter.”“This presence might also influence in great measure, our ability to have adequate airlift for the opening up of new markets, for improving access to Barbados out of existing ones and generally influencing civil aviation policy direction in the region.”He lamented that the civil aviation policy for the Caribbean had not been agreed upon by all potential signatories. But the BHTA wanted to see the matter resolved in a manner that created a more “open skies” approach to the Caribbean.Executive Vice President of the BHTA Sue Springer in her report, noted that 2009 had been a very challenging year. She said throughout the Caribbean most of the islands had recorded a decrease in long stay arrivals until the end of September.She noted Barbados had recorded an 8.7 per cent decline for the year 2009, with the greatest decline in the UK market. Springer said this decline was mainly due to the loss of Excel and BMI, leaving just British Airways and Virgin Atlantic to service Barbados.Capaldi in acknowledging the drop of tourists coming to the island especially from Britain, said although the arrivals needled in 2010 had been up 3.1 per cent from January to May over the 2009 performance, it still was way below the 2008 figure, which should be the benchmark performance year.“We strongly feel that the best way to make such a recovery is still by increasing our presence and activity in the British market. For even in the midst of overall recovery, this market is still off by some 13 per cent. “The Brits make up too large a percentage of our overall tourism for us not to pay careful attention to our declining fortunes in this critical area,” he said. (CT)