The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

Western Air yesterday revealed it has completed certification for the newly-acquired 50 seater jets that will drive its Caribbean expansion, an executive saying: “It’s been a long time coming.”

Rexy Rolle, pictured, the Bahamian-owned airline’s vice-president of operations and general counsel, said it has signed an agreement for four Embraer ERJ 145 long-range jet aircraft, two of which are already in the country. The third is to be delivered in the first week of December 2018, with the last scheduled to arrive in the 2019 first quarter.

Ms Rolle said: “The 145 jets will allow Western Air to expand to multiple destinations in the Caribbean and Latin America, including San Domingo, Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica and Panama, as well as northern destinations such as Toronto, Canada.

“While international destinations are on the horizon, the airline also plans on providing daily jet service between Nassau and Grand Bahama, Marsh Harbour and Exuma. Western Air will use its current Saab 340 A fleet to add flight services into New Bight, Cat Island, and Treasure Cay, Abaco.”

She added that Western Air’s first flight with the new aircraft will be this Thursday on its Nassau to Freeport route, after completing the certification process with industry regulator, the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA).

Captain Charles Beneby, the regulator’s director general, praised Western Air for its efforts as well as the work between the BCAA and the company on the “intensive” five-phase certification process.

He added: “What we are trying to do at the BCAA is make it easier for our stakeholders and partners and users of our system to achieve their desired goals in the shortest period of time.”