(Trinidad Express) Delayed since May, low fares airline REDjet will finally start commercial flights between Trinidad and Barbados next Thursday.
The announcement was made by the airline’s communications executive, Nyssa Pierre, yesterday at a press conference held at The Carlton Savannah hotel, Cascade.
“REDjet now has all licences and all certificates to operate commercial services between Trinidad and Barbados … as of (yesterday) fares are available. Our flights to Barbados will be available from next week Thursday,” Pierre said.
The airline was able to reach a compromise with local authorities on Friday after it initiated legal proceedings against the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority.
Transport Minister Devant Maharaj in a statement on Sunday said the parties involved agreed that the terms of the settlement will remain private.
Asked if the court matter played a role in the resolution of the matter, airline chief executive Ian Burns said:
“I think a lot of people played major roles. It became a political issue and so the politicians had to play a role in this too. So I wouldn’t think that any one part of this was the catalyst. I think there was a combination of issues,” Burns said.
“I would like to compliment the new minister who took on a very difficult challenge on his first day in office and I think he dealt with it remarkably well and I think he has done a great job for the consumers of Trinidad and Tobago and I think the Prime Minister of Barbados has also played a significant role in this and I would like to thank him.”
He also thanked Works and Infrastructure Minister Jack Warner for laying the groundwork for the approval.
While he could not comment on the details of the settlement, Burns maintained that the provisions for REDjet’s approval was in existing agreements.
“One thing that I would like to say is that REDjet has always maintained that as a designated airline of Barbados there is an air services agreement between Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados and as with all international air services agreements countries do have an obligation to honour the other country’s designated airline.”
