PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad –The Caribbean first low budget carrier, REDjet, today accused regional industry players of seeking to frustrate the progress of the airline, as it continues to face difficulties in obtaining the necessary licences to operate in some Caribbean countries.
In recent weeks, the Barbados-based REDjet has had difficulties obtaining the documents to operate into Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and the airline’s director of development, Robbie Burns, said he welcomed reports that the prime ministers of the three Caribbean countries-Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados- would be meeting later this month to discuss the matter.
“We would hope that the Prime Ministers’ meeting would actually be constructive and allow competition to come into the market so that consumers can benefit from lower fares,” he said on a local radio programme here.
Over the weekend, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding admitted that his administration denied the REDjet permission to fly to the island saying he is not yet prepared to allow the “Lovebird planes (Air Jamaica) to start dropping out of the sky”. Golding said he was also disturbed by reports that a Caribbean Airlines (CAL) aircraft had been held up in Barbados.
Burns said REDjet would not be deterred by the efforts to stop its expansion throughout the region.
“…This is a long term strategy that we have to enter the market with low fares and bring competition to the market,” he said noting that there had been a monopoly situation existing in the region where the entrance of others have been ‘delayed or slowed down”.
In April, REDjet announced that it would be flying between Jamaica and Barbados as of May 8. But the airline has been experiencing administrative problems in Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaica and has had to cancel its operations for a period.
REDjet now services the Barbados to Guyana route. (CMC)