The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

Bahamian aviation operators are demanding the provision of better data and statistics on the industry to help with the development of an aircraft registry.

Anthony Hamilton, Southern Air's director of administration, and president of the Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators, told Tribune Business the sector has been advocating for a private aircraft registry for years and is now hopeful the current administration will follow through with its promise.

Prime Minister Philip Davis, KC, wrapping up the 2023-2024 Budget debate, said his government is exploring potential incentives that would attract private aircraft owners and operators to register their planes in The Bahamas.

Comparing the aviation sector to the Government's efforts to develop a boat and yacht registry, which it sought to stimulate by eliminating VAT and Customs duty for imported vessels during the 2023-2024 Budget, Mr Davis added that he is minded to “consider providing the same incentives to the aircraft industry to encourage more aircraft to register in The Bahamas and grow our aircraft registry". The Government, he said, is “actively exploring this opportunity".

Mr Hamilton, in reply, said: “What we are lobbying for now is with regard to proper statistics and not only data collection, but sharing that data so we can make better-informed decisions from a scientific perspective. That has been a downfall in the industry; the quality of statistical information, period. This needs enhancement so we can do that across the board. I think with this we would be safe, and in position to make better informed decisions.

“I am not sure what kind of data they used to analyse these prospective incentives, but I am sure they had some kind of statistical data to drive that in terms of the tourism product. This is excellent. We have been talking about this for years. But having an aviation register similar to the shipping register, it’s an incentive to encourage registration with regard to The Bahamas and that’s always a draw to have that kind of publicity.

"So it’s a built-in advertisement and a beneficial exercise. However, it will come down to the policing of it and all of the conditional aspects.” Mr Hamilton said The Bahamas would be an attractive jurisdiction in which to establish a private aviation registry because of its location, which is the "country’s “greatest asset".

"Once the appropriate legislation and regulations are in place, it shouldn't be a difficulty there because we have models from other jurisdictions that can be incorporated to help that process,” he added of the necessary aircraft registry regulations. It's an excellent exercise in terms of encouraging persons to pursue the industry, so it creates expanded employment opportunities.”