"New Bermuda airport chief targets Americans to help island aviation trade take off"

Wednesday, June 26, 2002

New airport chief targets Americans to help island aviation trade take
off
United Kingdom - The London Financial Times


WITH just 12 inter-national flights a day, even the most bullish of
aviation statisticians would be hard-pressed to back any assertion that
Bermuda's airport and its facilities are under pressure.

However, that looks set to change under the guiding hand of new general
manager James Howes, who arrived in Bermuda early last month for an
intended three-year stay after almost two decades running an airport in
Florida, and immediately set sights on his fellow countrymen.

'A lot of Americans don't realise that Bermuda is so close. It is closer
to fly from New York to Bermuda than to fly to a resort in Florida. In
this new job I am going to be competing against my old airport,' he told
The Royal Gazette.

As if on cue, transport minister Ewart Brown announced that US Airways
was dropping its Baltimore-Bermuda link in favour of a direct flight
from Washington DC, with effect from July 7.

The Washington-Bermuda service will be the only international flight
operating from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

It will bring to four the number of US Airways flights servicing Bermuda
and it will operate initially between July and September.

Dr Brown said the new link would reach another level of potential
customers and insisted the challenge was perfect for the island's
tourist ministry. 'The flight coincides with the opening of tourism's
Washington DC office, scheduled for early July and we are very
optimistic about the success of this service from this prime region,' he
said.

American Airlines, Continental, Delta, US Airways and Air Canada operate
daily schedules to the island with British Airways offering a London
link four times a week. Around 410,000 passengers arrived in Bermuda
last year 'but we are nowhere near capacity and have underutilised
existing capacity,' Mr Howes told Lloyd's List.

Airport delays had also been a problem with Dr Brown admitting publicly
that one visitor had spent more time in the customs' queue than on the
flight from New York.

'The Customs Department is looking closely at the situation and is
looking to ensure flights operate more quickly and we are working
closely with the Department of Civil Aviation to develop additional
routes,' said Mr Howes.

Passengers leaving the island, meanwhile, can now take advantage of
significantly better refreshment facilities following the opening of the
airport's Boulevard Cafe on May 6.

The cafe replaced the bar by the departure gate and, on completion, it
will seat more than 50 people offering a diverse cuisine including
Italian and Chinese food.

Three of the nine staff are taking newly created jobs.

Terminals manager Mike Osborn said the venture was 'long overdue' and
described the cafe as a high class venue that diners in the area can
enjoy'.

BERMUDA International Airport has seen a surge in business travel, with
the number of executive aircraft arriving on the island up by 35% since
September 11, reflecting huge concerns about safety. Courier activity
has also increased.

But there is concern that some UK regulations and outdated legislation
are impeding progress. 'We would like a degree more autonomy to allow us
to control more from Bermuda than London,' said Rod Scott, business
development manager at the Bermuda Department of Civil Aviation.

'This is an attractive jurisdiction and we could better serve valuable
private clients. We have a good reputation and could take advantage of
it,' he added.

Bermuda's executive terminal is situated to the north of the airport and
some distance from the main terminal. It has its own entrance and
administrative areas and handles some 2,720 movements each year, ranging
from company jets to larger aircraft .

Some 410,000 passengers arrived at Bermuda airport last year but the
gateway is a long way off capacity.


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/cgi-bin/dcforum/dcboard.cgi?conf=DCConfID8

*****************************************