Mrs. Donna Banks, Special Assistant in the Ministry of Tourism reported on Wednesday this week that in spite of the challenges over the past eighteen months to improve access out of the San Juan hub, Anguilla Air Express operated by Rainbow International Airlines will commence serving the Anguilla San Juan route beginning February 14, 2009.

L-R: Hon. Donna Banks, Hon. Victor Banks, Mrs. Rose Hodge and Dr. Aidan Harrigan (Some Access Committee Members)

The report by Mrs. Banks continues as follows:
“The Government of Anguilla has from 1987 when that route was opened up with the introduction of the 19 seat American Eagle, been committed to the development of this route and the total access into Anguilla which includes its three primary hubs of St. Maarten, Antigua and San Juan and the now emerging hub of St. Kitts.

“The Government has a responsibility to ensure that there is safe, reliable and easy connectivity for our visitors and residents alike. Every responsible government does that as it recognizes that access is not a luxury but it is essential to the economic development of an island or country. The Government of Anguilla has been providing the necessary supports to ensure that the air bridge between St. Maarten and Anguilla remain intact through the services provided by Anguilla Air Service, an Anguillian owned and operated transportation provider. The Ministry of Tourism remains a committed partner with St. Maarten and Princess Juliana Airport. We have very good relations with the authorities there and have been providing marketing support for new air services into Princess Juliana. We are included in the discussions St. Maarten has with new carriers it seeks to attract as our importance as a luxury destination is recognized.

“We are continuing to seek ways to enhance the transfer of passengers from Juliana Airport to Anguilla whether it be by air or sea. We have not always been successful in facilitating more favourable processes for our ferry services but we recognize the concerns of these sovereign governments and as such must respect same.

“A comprehensive Access Development Programme is not an either or situation but rather an evaluation of the various alternatives and the creation of the best mix to optimize opportunities. It would be foolhardy on the part of Anguilla to eliminate any alternatives from the mix.

“The San Juan hub is important for visitors and residents alike. Not only do we have to cater for the visitors coming from the mainland that have many alternatives including American Airlines, Jet Blue, Continental Airlines, US Air, Air Trans, Delta, Spirit, United and the like, but also for visitors from San Juan. Puerto Rico has shown that there is potential in this market especially in the softer months. To be able to develop this market there must be access out of San Juan to Anguilla. We cannot expect them to travel to New York or Miami and then take a flight into St. Maarten to then get to Anguilla. We have to recognize that right now there is not the capacity out of San Juan into St. Maarten. Our beloved American Eagle has two flights – one at 9:00a.m and the other at 12:35p.m. This flight must cater to visitors who have taken flights from the mainland to go to St. Maarten; it must cater to residents of St. Maarten (Dutch and French), St. Eustatius, Saba who travel to Puerto Rico whether for medical, shopping or just leisure purposes. In addition, San Juan is a home port for the cruise ships and hence residents of these islands who desire to board the ship in San Juan must be catered for. San Juan is also a market that is heavily targeted by St. Maarten. It seems ludicrous to believe that there is no reason to develop service out of San Juan when the passenger needs are so great.

“The Government of Anguilla is solutions oriented. We recognize that with diverse passenger needs out of San Juan and the competition for the limited seats on American Eagle and possibly LIAT, that if we are to have a chance to realize our objectives then we have no choice but to look at improving direct access. The Government Anguilla despite personal preferences recognize that the business model of the day for any airline that is being requested to expand service or introduce a service, is revenue guarantees. Countries the world over and the Caribbean opposed to the idea of revenue guarantees have had to bend in the face of economically crippling transportation issues. We can play the ostrich or we can recognize that we are the solution. The choice is ours.

“We have had sometimes seemingly successful discussions with airlines and even toasted to their success but these airlines have at the end of the day not materialized. It is nothing personal with Anguilla. They love Anguilla; we have excellent relationships but at the end of the day if the bottom line does not show desired results, business decisions have to be made. Any astute and objective business person knows this. We cannot become emotional about these things. The Government of Anguilla has a fiduciary responsibility to the people of Anguilla and as such will not squander scarce resources whether it be a local or foreign provider of air services.

“The Government of Anguilla approached Rainbow International as a last resort when all other options had failed and we are pleased that as committed Anguillians they were willing to grab the bull by the horn and seek to find a solution. We see Anguilla Air Express as a great opportunity to begin to address some of the issues that the private sector and members of the public have been agitating for.

“Other islands have been affected by the reduced services by carriers out of San Juan including Tortola, St. Thomas and St. Croix. They have not rolled over or thrown their hands in the air. They have welcomed the Cape Air shuttle with their Cessna airplanes and persons have shown their appreciation by supporting the service. Grants and guarantees have issues of confidentiality associated with them so we will never know the full details of support given to airlines but we know that support is there.

“The Government of Anguilla has an obligation and commitment to the people of Anguilla including business owners and investors, as well as visitors to have safe, reliable and easy connectivity between San Juan and Anguilla. To this end we are please to confirm that Anguilla Air Express will operate three flights per day between Anguilla and San Juan. Reservations can be made online at www.anguillaairexpress.com or by calling 866 966 1881. The service will begin with the King Air A 100, a luxury carrier used in their charter service with plans to increase capacity within a six-month period. The aircraft will be operated by two qualified and experienced pilots. The return fare is US$399. Flying time is 55 minutes. There are no change fees if passengers must make adjustments to their travel schedule. The local office with local telephone numbers will be fully operational by February 7, 2009.”

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