BTA: Increased Airlift Forecast For 2016

February 10, 2016

American Airlines will soon begin service to Bermuda with a second flight from New York’s JFK Airport, part of an 18 percent increase in commercial airline seats flying to Bermuda in the first quarter of 2016 when compared to the first quarter of 2015, the BTA said today.

“Our ongoing dialogues with airline partners are showing results,” said Tourism Development & Transport Minister Shawn Crockwell.

“Not only do we have the added airlift from New York on American Airlines, we’ve seen other airlines fly more often this winter than they did last winter. This is good news for residents and business people who rely on air travel, but also presents an opportunity to the Bermuda Tourism Authority to attract more visitors.”

The BTA said, “In the second quarter a 6 percent increase in seats is forecast, making for two consecutive quarters of additional airlift, which represents 24,222 more commercial airline seats available to Bermuda. In 2015, every quarter of the year experienced a decrease in airlift – down 9.2 percent or 51,090 fewer commercial airline seats.

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“Typically an increase in the supply of commercial airline seats brings more competitive prices for travellers.”

“Through the third quarter of 2015, vacation air arrivals were the best performing type of traveller. Vacationer travel was down 0.8 percent, business travel was off 4.5 percent and visiting friends and family was down 9 percent.

“Fewer Bermuda-based employees in the international business sector and fewer visiting friends and family of ex-pats are partly responsible for the lagging performance in the non-vacationer categories.”

Bermuda Tourism Authority CEO Bill Hanbury said: “Airline seats to Bermuda are down 30 percent in the past decade. That’s why we’re working hard to grow demand and assist our partners in government who negotiate with airlines. The first two quarters of this year are encouraging and with promotions like the Pink Sale we are making strides to fill those seats.”

Airlift Capacity Bermuda Feb 10 2016 type of visitors

American Airlines flight 1428, its second from New York’s JFK, is scheduled to depart at noon eastern time and arrive in Bermuda at 3:05pm local time. It will return to JFK same day with a departure at 4:00pm, arriving at JFK at 5:30pm eastern time. The additional flight will operate every day of the week except Tuesday.

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Comments (7)

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  1. Rocky says:

    Good ole faithful Bill Hanbury. Bill check your numbers because all I see is a rapid decline. What are we paying you 1000 dollars a day for?

  2. Micro says:

    but how much are we paying for the inevitable empty seats?

  3. mmm says:

    Good to hear of the additional air-lift, I understand hotel rooms are expen sive, there is a need to understand why they are so so expensive that folks choose to fly further south to our Carribean neighbours. Sometimes an idea of 100 rooms free the the 4th night of a seven night stay, or a similar idea, including free ground transportation.

  4. UmJustSaying says:

    Just imagine if we encouraged Bermudians to travel more. If the prices from here to anywhere changed to make it more attractive for us to go. Maybe the 20.000 of us travelling this year could persuade a few people to visit us. That question.
    What is the purpose of your visit? Could be answered. Because I met a Bermudian that spoke about how Bermudaful it is….

  5. Eve says:

    The headlines should read ‘Bermuda Taxpayers Increase 2016 Airlift’. Why do we need BTA, Crockwell could or should be doing the airlift job. BTA need to forget the excuses and get on with the job of putting more butts in the seats so taxpayers don’t have to cover the airline revenue shortfall.

  6. I heart 441 says:

    Sorry Bill, after your 3 year tenure as CEO of BTA, your position needs to be evaluated. Did he really say air arrivals is down 30% !!!