The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

A leading aviation executive said yesterday his airline was looking to fill at least 25 positions via a job fair and set the ground work for further expansion internationally, adding: “We’re not just going to depend on the local market anymore”.

Sky Bahamas chief executive, Captain Randy Butler, told Tribune Business that the company was looking to capitalise on passenger traffic from destinations such as Brazil and Haiti, and had “not closed the door” on service to Cuba.

“We had a number of people move on so we need to replace those staff,” he said. “It’s a natural thing that happens every few years. I think in total we’re looking at about 25 positions right now.

“We use this opportunity to build a good bank of people we could draw from as other people move on. The job fair is not only immediate hire but for future hires, to build a bank of suitable applicants we could draw from. We’re doing this job fair looking at immediate needs, and we are also looking at long-term needs.”

Captain Butler said Sky Bahamas could no longer simply depend on the domestic market, with load factors on these routes down to 25-30 per cent.

“We have to keep planning for the future. We have a lot of challenges because of the increases in taxes and new fees that are coming upon us,” Captain Butler said.

“It is limiting our expansion but we have to keep planning and moving forward. I think we need to prepare ourselves and be in position so that these international companies will look at Sky Bahamas.

“We’re looking at what’s happening in Cat Island and Bimini. We really want to be a part of what’s going on in Bimini; not only domestically but bringing in folks internationally, especially from the Florida side of things. “

Mr Butler added: “We have a lot of new hotels coming on stream. Latin America will be one of the markets where many of the visitors come from.

“I believe that Sky Bahamas will be positioning itself so that as these properties come they will look at Sky Bahamas as a serious company to provide services. If we need to lease aircraft to make that happen, we will do that, but we have the foundation and the basic infrastructure to move if we have to right now.”

Mr Butler said Sky Bahamas was in talks to enter the Haiti market.

“We are a flag carrier of the Bahamas. We have the ability to go internationally. We’re looking at all avenues right now. We haven’t really gone after Haiti like we should,” he added.

“I see that market is coming back very good. That market is really coming along. I’m looking forward to see that happening. We’re talking to some folks right now about the Haiti route. We’re thinking about doing flights from Marsh Harbour to Haiti. In our job fair we’re looking for people who can speak Creole.

“I’m open to doing charter services to Cuba. You can’t just go to Cuba and start flying. It has to be with a hotel or a group. Bahamasair is doing a lot of those flights. We have had folks come to us about Cuba. We have not closed that door. We see that as an opportunity. We have not pushed that but we want to be in place. We will be looking for people who speak Spanish with the opportunity to go to Brazil and Panama,” said Captain Butler.

Speaking on the domestic market, he added: “September has been the slowest September since we have been in the business. With the plans we have, we’re not just going to depend on the local market any more. Load factors are about 25-30 per cent.

“On the weekends it jumps up a bit to 35 per cent. This usually happens after school opens. We have some advanced bookings for the upcoming holiday. It’s starting to look promising.

“I think in October and November we will see traffic start to pick up. Our Marsh Harbour/Fort Lauderdale route is probably one of our strongest routes. That has been very good throughout the year. Those loads are consistently around 60 per cent all through the year.”