T&T works minister in the dark on REDjet’s permit

(Trinidad Express) Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner said yesterday he was in the dark as to how new Caribbean airline REDjet got the go-ahead to operate in Trinidad and Tobago.

REDjet’s business development director Robbie Burns said yesterday the required approvals were obtained.

“REDjet has the required regulatory approval from Air Transport Licensing Authority in Barbados under the Air Services agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados to conduct our current commercial activities. We remain excited about our inaugural flight on May 8,” Burns told the Express via phone yesterday.

Asked about REDjet’s operations, Warner said he was clueless as to where the airline obtained its approvals.

“You know something, regrettably, I don’t have all the details of REDjet’s entry into Trinidad and Tobago. … I keep trying to know how it happened and why and so on. Be that as it may I want to believe that it is healthy competition and if REDjet coming to Trinidad and Tobago means that (Caribbean Airlines) will buck up … or lower its fares for the general public then so be it, because nothing is wrong with competition,” said Warner during the post-Cabinet press briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s.

“I would have liked to know how the airline got the permission, from whom and when and I’m not quite sure I can answer you those questions,” Warner continued, adding that he had no documents at his ministry’s office with respect to REDjet’s operations.

Director general of the Civil Aviation Authority Ramesh Lutchmedial told the Express yesterday that no approval had been granted for REDjet to start operating in Trinidad and Tobago.

REDjet, the Caribbean’s first low-fare airline, was launched at The Carlton Savannah hotel, Port of Spain on Wednesday.

Burns said that by May 8 customers will be able to pay as low as US$9.99 (before taxes) for a one-way flight.

REDjet registered 150,000 visitors to its website from midday Wednesday to midday yesterday, following its launch in Port of Spain.

At one point customers could not log on to the website.

Burns told the Express that customers were unable to access the website not because it was overloaded but because REDjet switched its server on Wednesday night.

With regard to what the company is offering, Warner warned yesterday: “When you look at the fine print in REDjet you will see all that glitters is not gold but I wouldn’t say more than that for the time being.”

Also commenting on REDjet’s entry into the travel market, Foreign Affairs Minister Suruj Rambachan said State carrier Caribbean Airlines had a track record for safety.

“I just want to say that you know the old BWIA and CAL has had an unenviable track record for safety and perhaps is one of the very few airlines in the world which has been regarded as one of the safest airlines in Trinidad and Tobago,” he said.

While CAL has a proven track record for safety it has experienced a lot of turbulence with respect to its board of directors led by chairman George Nicholas III.

There is said to be disagreement amongst Nicholas and his directors and the matter of the future of the board is in the hands of the Cabinet.

Questioned on the matter yesterday, Warner said it was expected that the issue will be discussed at Cabinet.

He withheld further comment saying that he did not want to pre-empt the work of the inter-ministerial committee which was appointed to look into the matter and make recommendations.

“I can understand your anxiety and that of the people of Trinidad and Tobago and even the airline itself and I can give you the assurance that I’m quite sure that over the next couple days this matter shall be ventilated,” said Warner.