REDjet says low fares here to stay

(Barbados Nation) REDJet has dismissed suggestions it may eventually have to abandon its low-fare business model if it wants to continue adding smaller Caribbean islands to its destinations.

The suggestions were made by rival LIAT’s chief executive officer, Brian Challenger, who was reported in the SUNDAY SUN, October 16 edition, as saying REDjet could face challenges similar to his airline.

“Operating between St Kitts and St Maarten with an MD-80 aircraft, that is a known fuel guzzler, is probably not the optimum choice; so that it will also involve a complete change in the REDjet business model,” Challenger said.

However, while addressing members of the media yesterday at Island Inn Hotel, chief executive officer of the Barbados-based airline, Ian Burns, said REDjet was in the industry to encourage more people to travel to more places for less and its low-fares model would therefore not be changed.

“REDjet is a low-fares airline and its business model is what it is, and if we were flying to destinations that did not meet our business model, we would be silly. We have a pretty simple business model and we will not be [abandoning] our low fares.”