NASSAU, BAHAMAS — Local airlines are still awaiting clearance from the government to fly passengers commercially, with Bahamasair chairman Tommy Turnquest telling Eyewitness News he was uncertain when the national flag carrier will resume operations.
Amended emergency orders released on Friday eliminates the need to obtain a negative COVID-19 test prior to inter-island travel — with the exception of traveling from Grand Bahama and New Providence.
According to the amended orders, anyone seeking to travel to another island must still obtain a travel visa prior to traveling, and upon arrival on the island submit to mandatory quarantine at a government approved facility for 14 days.
Yesterday, Turnquest said: “I really don’t know when we will resume flights. We are still in discussions with the government. Essentially government is putting out these requirements to make it difficult to travel.
“They want to discourage inter-island travel. It is obvious that the number of COVID cases are still high particularly in New Providence and Grand Bahama. The only way persons can get to the other islands is if there is travel.”
Tourism Minister Dionisio D’Aguilar did not respond to calls yesterday; however, he is expected to provide a report on his ministry during a press conference at noon today.
Turnquest continued: “There is some demand. I don’t know how much pent up demand there is but there is some demand. We haven’t started operations and I know the government wants to discourage travel until we get this under control on New Providence and Grand Bahama.”
Rexy Rolle, vice-president of operations and general counsel of Western Air, told Eyewitness the airline has received numerous calls and emails inquiring about commercial domestic travel given the relaxation of some restrictions in the latest emergency orders.
“However, Western Air has not been given permission to fly passengers commercially,” Rolle said.
“It was advised that domestic flights for the airline are not to begin and thus far, an anticipated date has not been stated despite the wording in the Order. Therefore, you would notice a number of passengers flying privately inter-island, which I understand is permitted.”
Rolle continued: “We are prepared to resume domestic flights and service the flying public safely. As you know, our flight operations implemented stringent cleaning, sanitization and health protocols to keep passengers and crew safe and that will continue when flights restart.
“As we operated flights domestically throughout the month of June and early July, travel went quite smoothly and our safety protocols were followed across the board. As we saw, the travel across international borders and community interaction in July ultimately played a significant role in the resurgence of COVID cases, so we understood the necessary measures to contain it.”
She said: “However, prior to the late July resurgence, domestic travel was able to operate while cases were indeed contained.”
Rolle noted that globally, airlines continue to operate as it has been determined that airlines are one of the safest forms of travel due to the high efficiency air filtration and ventilation systems.
She said: “Western Air’s jets, similar to those operated by other international carriers, are equipped with the high efficiency filtration and ventilation systems that significantly increases the quality of air in the cabin, comparable to an operating theater and proven to be 10 times higher air quality than of a standard office building or a store, which makes it less likely to transfer communicable diseases.
“Aircraft, like the ones Western Air operates, were equipped with these air systems prior to the pandemic because aircraft manufacturers would have done this to combat the threats of tuberculosis, SARS and other communicable diseases in the past. While everyone must still travel and interact with caution, it is important to note those points.”
Rolle said: “Nevertheless we look forward to resuming domestic flights when it is permitted. We recognize that many passengers travel for short period. As they expressed, they go to an island for the day on business or less than a week and return home.
“Passengers will have to determine whether it is even feasible to purchase the PCR test, await results, travel to an island, submit to quarantine (which prevents any business activity they would have flown in for) and possibly purchase another COVID-19 test, await results to then return home, if their travel extends past five days.”
She added: “To do this to travel within the country, to another island, will be difficult and we hope these inter-island procedures are reconsidered.”
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