BVI Should Pursue VI Airways
On his July 1, 2026 ZBVI 780 AM show, Honourable Skelton-Cline urged the government to pursue a locally based Virgin Islands Airways despite the recent BVI Airways debacle. He called for a ban on LIAT until service improves and said the territory should engage wealthy investors — including Sir Richard Branson — to build reliable regional airlift.
On July 1, 2026, during his radio programme Honestly Speaking on ZBVI 780 AM, Honourable Skelton-Cline urged the Virgin Islands not to abandon plans for a homegrown carrier despite the recent BVI Airways debacle. He told listeners that persistent travel problems at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport underscore the need for a better, more reliable regional airlift.
Skelton-Cline sharply criticised regional carrier LIAT, saying he would “ban LIAT from flying in the Virgin Islands until LIAT can get themselves together.” He described frequent delays and poor communication at the airport, saying passengers routinely wait “from two to six hours” without clear information and mocking the airline’s initials as standing for “Leave Island At Anytime.” While acknowledging the setbacks caused by the collapse of BVI Airways, Skelton-Cline argued that the debacle should not end efforts to establish some form of Virgin Islands Airways.
He urged the government and business community to identify problems and offer practical solutions to the territory’s airlift challenges. A key part of Skelton-Cline’s proposal is private-sector engagement. He said the territory should “engage the wealthy class,” naming figures such as Sir Richard C.N.
Branson and other aviation investors who have the capital, expertise and relationships to help launch and sustain a carrier. “You can’t have folk sitting up here with the means… and we here struggling and they benefitting from residence,” he said, calling for those with resources to invest in the territory’s connectivity.
Skelton-Cline also voiced support for the ongoing airport expansion project at Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, saying improved infrastructure will be important if the BVI is to host a reliable local airline. For residents, a dependable carrier could mean shorter waits, better connections to neighbouring islands and the wider Caribbean, and a steadier flow of tourism revenue.
The call adds to ongoing public debate about air services in the BVI, balancing regulatory action, public investment in infrastructure and private-sector participation. Any move toward a new carrier would require careful planning, financial backing and regulatory oversight to avoid repeating past failures and to secure dependable service for residents and visitors alike.
Primary source: VINO