By NATARIO McKENZIE
and NEIL HARTNELL
Tribune Business Reporters
A Cabinet minister yesterday declined to intervene in the dispute that has prevented Sky Bahamas from flying for three weeks and left it on the brink of financial collapse.
Dionisio D'Aguilar, minister of tourism and aviation, instead urged Captain Randy Butler, the airline's principal, to continue meeting with the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority and "work out" his differences.
Addressing the matter ahead of yesterday's Cabinet meeting, Mr D'Aguilar said: "I believe, although I haven't confirmed, that he had discussions with the regulator. I want to be very clear: No minister of aviation with any sense is going to intervene on a safety issue.
"If Sky Bahamas has a matter before the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority, it's up to him to figure out how to get the necessary approvals in order for him to obtain his air operating certificate (AOC)."
Mr D'Aguilar continued: "I don't have the technical expertise to intervene on his behalf; this is something he has to work out with the regulator. The aviation sector is highly regulated with a lot of technical standards and technical rules, which the regulator knows and the operating airlines know.
"He needs to sit with the regulator and work out what difference he has in order to bring ease and calm to the matter, and put the regulator at bay to fulfill all of the requirements that he has."
Captain Butler last night confirmed that Sky Bahamas' AOC, which is the permit required for an airline to carry fare-paying passengers, had still not been renewed as he accused regulators of linking the matter to debts the airline allegedly owes to Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD).
Arguing that the AOC was a separate issue from any debt owed to the Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA) operator, and that the two should not be linked, Captain Butler told this newspaper: "They're now attaching the fact we owe NAD, which is a completely separate organisation from the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority."
Tribune Business understands that NAD and Sky Bahamas are now embroiled in a Supreme Court battle over that debt, although Captain Butler declined to go into details or comment on the matter.
It emerged last year that the airline owed NAD some $454,000 in passenger facility and security fees it collects from ticket prices on the airport operator's behalf, but Captain Butler said Sky Bahamas had been making inroads into this sum as well as paying what was due currently.
At the time he branded NAD's threat to terminate Sky Bahamas' airport operating licence as "a non-issue", adding that the debt owed had been reduced and that such a situation was not uncommon with other airlines.
Tribune Business understands that the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority now wants to conduct an inspection of Sky Bahamas' premises and records tomorrow in a bid to determine whether it has addressed the regulator's safety inspection findings - findings that Captain Butler and the airline have bitterly disputed and contested.
The Sky Bahamas chief has repeatedly asked why, given that the safety inspection in question took place at end-May, the airline was allowed to keep flying for another month before the regulator ordered it to cease on July 8.
Sky Bahamas and other airlines are also subject to constant surveillance year-round by the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority, with inspectors going on flights and attending training programmes. Captain Butler queried why no issues that could affect the AOC renewal were raised during that time, and why concerns were suddenly appearing now.
Voicing "surprise" at Mr D'Aguilar's reluctance to intervene, Captain Butler said Sky Bahamas' ongoing inability to fly during the "peak" summer period continues to cost it hundreds of thousands of dollars.
While the airline was effectively "past the point of no return", he added that several of its remaining 63 staff had agreed to defer their wages due yesterday for another week, while offers of financial assistance from outside had also inspired him to keep going.
Captain Butler said there were also "a number of very good options for strategic partners" seeking to invest in and join Sky Bahamas, adding that two had signed non-disclosure agreements despite the perilous situation in which the airline finds itself.
"As far as we're concerned we're past the point of no return had someone not come along today and said: 'Here's some help'," he told Tribune Business. "Based on the fact that we're not operating that will help pay the bills, and some staff have given me permission to go ahead for another week.
"We're trying to get this done in the next week. We're past that point if not for the help that's come in."
Comments
TalRussell 5 years, 3 months ago
Could it be's case whereby comrade minister too Intensely into numbers, and now national lottery, have any extra time spend over a nuisance true son colony's soil Randy's sob story efforts get his aircraft's back up in air, yes, no .... ..Dionisio James, it's that time go back read transcripts what today's cabinet members had say about numbers whilst Queen's loyal opposition. ...
Economist 5 years, 3 months ago
Western Air can handle the traffic to Abaco and Exuma.
The big problem is Bahamasair(Government jobs and votes program) is able to use the taxpayers money to put other Bahamians out of work and out of business.
Imagine if Sky and Western Air were each given an extra $30 Million a year by Government.
The Minister does not want to get involved because he knows that he is a big part of the problem as he has helped fund the destruction of Sky.
Watch out Western, the Government will be out to end you as well. They will use millions more of tax payer money to shut you down to keep the Bahamasair Government jobs and votes program going.
Well_mudda_take_sic 5 years, 3 months ago
Our DPM and Minister of Finance is an investor in Western Air, and that's why Sky Bahamas stands no chance whatsoever of remaining in business.
proudloudandfnm 5 years, 3 months ago
Sky didn't need any help with their own destruction. Get real man.....
TalRussell 5 years, 3 months ago
Comrade Economist right about the if Sky and Western were assisted each year by injection $30 million.
Something tells me the 2389 comrade Montaguians voting in 2017 general election, feels what their House MP Dionisio James's heart needs do is take some wow inspiration from Kodi Lee. to not fall asleep tonight until after picks up phone and says hello, directly to Capt. Randy to offer the capt. and his employees - a little ministerial helping hand up, yes, no ..... It's kind decency 2389 Mongaguians saw in the man's they elected as their House representative .... and no, it is not interfering ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDPdR...">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDPdR...
truetruebahamian 5 years, 3 months ago
Privatise Bahamasair. As Dionisio says, the government is lousy at conducting commercial business!
onelove 5 years, 3 months ago
Are you people serious....why would the Minister get involved with this....there is a safety issue....SAFETY....get that right and all is well....can't play with people's lives up there....and we make everything about politics....western air is being managed by black locals ...so please man....let us fo what we suppose to do as responsible citizens....stop blamming the government for everything..smt
sheeprunner12 5 years, 3 months ago
The Bahamian charter plane business is very fragile and cut-throat (as it presently exists competing with Bahamasair and other international carriers) ....... It requires that the local owners have deep pockets and/or foreign partners ........... And there may be a number of major PEPs who will be glad to see the back of Randy Butler due to his outspoken (political) views on the aviation industry.
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