The REDjet Saga has been characterized by two main opposing viewpoints.
On the one hand, the governments of Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and even Barbados have held firm to their stance that certain regulatory requirements have to be followed.
On the other hand, the low-cost carrier claims that despite having submitted all relevant documentation in a timely manner, “political and regulatory actions” by the Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago governments have resulted in the lengthy holdup.
One would recall that there was an extended delay before the airline got its Air Operators Certificate from Barbados’ Civil Aviation Department.
In fact, although REDjet officially launched last October, it did not receive the certificate until April 15. At that time Minister of International Transport George Hutson there would be “no shortcuts in Barbados’ aircraft regulation system”.
“There are certain segments of society,who seem to be of the view that regulating and licensing aircraft is as simple as regulating motor traffic – but there are regulatory procedures and checks which must be followed, some of which must be done in a particular sequence to conform to international best practices,” he said in the Monday, January 24 DAILY NATION this year.
Hutson said Barbados was at that time being inspected and audited in the process of achieving a category one safety rating and that the way REDjet’s air operator certification was done would influence that audit.
The airline seemingly encountered no hitches with authorities in Guyana and it took made its inaugural flight to that country on May 10. Less than 24 hours after lifting off, REDjet informed customers who had bought tickets to Jamaica that flights had been cancelled.
“Due to political and regulatory actions in Jamaica beyond our control, REDjet cannot operate flights between Barbados to Jamaica between 11th May and 24th May,” said the email signed by the airline’s Business Development Director Robbie Burns.
The airline experienced similar problems with its Trinidad and Tobago market after the government there indicated that the airline had no permission to land at Piarco International Airport.
“As a result, we regrettably announce that passengers booked on eight scheduled flights between Barbados, Trinidad and Jamaica will not be able to travel as planned. No other routes or flights are affected by this decision and will operate as scheduled,” the airline said.
In the May 17 DAILY NATION REDjet charged that Trinidad and Tobago’s “naked protectionism” and sheer greed are stopping the Barbados-based airline from securing the right to fly to the twin-island state as well as to Jamaica.
REDjet chairman Ian Burns and investor Ralph “Bizzy” Williams slammed the Port-of-Spain authorities for their “delaying tactics” and called on the Barbados Government to do more to enforce its aviation rights and protect the 70 people working for the airline here.
In explaining his statement that the failure of the service to both countries to get off the ground was due to “political delays”, Burns told the DAILY?NATION that REDjet has met all the regulatory requirements to fly into these states, yet their authorities were finding new obstacles to put in the way.
“Therefore we can only assume that they are of a political nature,” Burns said, adding: “There are forces out there that are determined to stop REDjet getting into the air to deny consumers the choice that they require.”
In response to suggestions that Trinidadian authorities have been pressuring their Jamaica counterparts to stall REDjet, Burns said: “Everybody knows that there has been a delay in the completion of the Air Jamaica, Caribbean Airlines deal. . . .
“So one can only assume that there are new conditions being sought by Caribbean Airlines and Trinidad. And one can only assume that these conditions are putting pressure on Jamaica and their aviation policy. . . . Everybody knows what is going on. It is naked protectionism – that is how it appears.”
Meanwhile, in the May 18 MIDWEEK NATION REDjet said it was still seeking the necessary documents from the Trinidad and Tobago authorities to begin commercial operations even as media reports said the Air Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA) had yet to receive the airline’s application.
REDjet said it was confirming that “the application for journey permits was made to the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) since December last year as there had been no ATLA board in place”.
“REDjet was additionally advised to resubmit its application on the 9th May, 2011, to the Director General of Civil Aviation to facilitate its delivery (to) the first board meeting of the ATLA on the 10th May, 2011 and this was done accordingly.”
The airline said it had done so “in the appropriate manner according to the regulations and the advice given by the relevant authorities” and that earlier this month, the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the airline “was indeed in compliance with the safety and security requirements for foreign air operator operations specifications”.
However, TTCAA’s director general Ramesh Lutchmedial was quoted as saying that ATLA had not granted a commercial licence to REDjet. Lutchmedial said that the application has not been submitted to ATLA because his organisation was still ensuring that REDjet met all the necessary regulatory requirements.
“We are required to ensure that the operators comply with safety and security regulations before we recommend their application to ATLA. We are still engaged with Barbados Civil Aviation regarding some operational issues that need to be resolved,” Lutchmedial said.
Meanwhile the June 9 DAILY NATION reported that the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) said it was awaiting documentation from authorities in Barbados to verify information provided by REDjet to continue the airline’s application process.
Without providing details on what information JCAA was anticipating, she said they have been waiting since early last month.
Gabrielle Springer-Taylor, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Business and International Transport, confirmed that additional information was to be sent to Jamaican authorities.
Most recently Jamaica’s Prime Minister Bruce Golding warned interests in Barbados that Jamaica would not be “bullied” into allowing REDjet to fly into that country.
He said ever since the conclusion of the Air Jamaica-Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) deal, pressure was being applied to allow the carrier to fly to Jamaica.
Golding pointed out that he was not saying the application would not be approved but it would have to be allowed with the CAL deal in mind.