The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

The Bahamian aviation industry needs details and “guidance” on all the health and safety protocols it will need to implement so that it can re-open to inter-island and international commercial travel once again.

Anthony K Hamilton, president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, told Tribune Business that the sector needed more than the “blanket statement” provided by the prime minister in his national address on Sunday night.

“In a general sense a blanket statement was made, but it has to be drilled down because the industry doesn’t function like that,” Mr Hamilton said. “I do have some concerns with the little bit that I heard, because I have no idea of the requisite protocols put in place for guidance.

“We need to rely on the authorities to instruct the industry as to how we might execute. There is definite need for a partnership so we have an understanding, and proper alignment is critical in this process.” Mr Hamilton added that he was was “hoping somebody from the [Civil Aviation] Authority would be calling” him soon “to pass on some good news and provide some proper guidance”.

Dr Hubert Minnis, in his Sunday address, said: “The government is well advanced in our planning for the beginning of the re-opening of our tourism sector and to allow for travel in and out of The Bahamas.” It is targeting a date “on or before July 1” at which to restart commercial air travel, although the precise timing depends on the COVID-19 infection rate and whether adequate health and safety measures are in place.

“Our resorts, our airports and our sea ports are finalising the health and safety protocols that will be necessary for us to provide for a re-opening,” the prime minister added. “Taking into account what is being done within the region and around the world, these extensive guidelines will be designed to provide for reasonable assurance that travel and leisure are generally safe.”

The prime minister added that the government is also moving to gradually re-open inter-island travel within the Bahamian archipelago. Travellers, including those on work or business trips, must first be evaluated by doctors and obtain a COVID-19 Authorisation Travel Card before they can leave. Family Island residents stuck in New Providence and Grand Bahama, and wanting to return to COVID-19 free islands, will be the first to travel.

Mr Hamilton said the aviation industry’s regulator and other government agencies now needed to explain what this means for the sector. “Obviously decisions have been made now that have to be filtered, because the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA) in conjunction with other agencies of the Government needs to provide instructions,” he explained.

“We are speaking for an industry that is very complex and complicated in many respects, because it is a technical industry. There are a lot of compliances that are necessary, and we need to have that guidance in order to operate and comply.

“I’m thinking the islands have been opened and, in the industry, you have certain airlines that fly to particular destinations. So it would appear that automatically those operators would be able to get in gear, but how do they get in gear? There need to be protocols to be followed in order for that to happen,” Mr Hamilton added.

“This is part of the process now in terms of being clear and definitive on what constitutes commercial activity with regards to the islands that are open..... The authorities may say that certain things can happen tomorrow if they wish, but what will happen to facilitate that to happen tomorrow in terms of the industry?”