Branson: Virgin in Tobago for the long haul

Flambouyant Virgin Atlantic Chairman Sir Richard Branson on Monday became another fly in BWIA’s ointment.

At a media reception at the Tobago Hilton, which followed the airline’s inaugural direct flight into Tobago, Branson did not mince his words. Virgin, he said, is in Tobago for the long haul. On the beleagured BWIA, Branson said the airline is not on his cards right now. Not yet, anyway.  Branson is, however, prepared to talk with the TT Government, but only  if it indicated that it wanted Virgin to consider the possibility of investing in the airline. “We don’t normally get involved in companies that are already up and running. I mean, if the Government ever said to us they wanted us to invest in Trinidad in the airline industry, we’ll certainly talk to them about it”, he told journalists. The dapper millionaire however stressed that it was “always difficult to invest in other airlines”. He explained: “I mean, what Virgin is good at doing is starting airlines with new equipment etc, you know, starting things from scratch. And, having said that, I mean, I like BWEE’s operations; if the Government were to come to us to see if there were ways in which we could participate I’d happily talk to them”.

In the meantime, as far as BWEE is concerned, the Virgin Atlantic Chairman said he just wished them well. “I mean, obviously the airline industry is a difficult industry and there is a lot going against the industry; we know that BWEE has had its difficulties and we hope that things will work out for them”, he asserted. On the question of how the deal was initiated that resulted in Monday’s start-up of the Virgin Atlantic service out of the UK, Sir Richard explained that Tobago House of Assembly (THA) officials had approached the airline “trying to encourage us to come for some time, obviously in the interest of tourism, of the hotels, of the restaurants, to get more traffic coming here”.

He said Virgin Atlantic’s negotiating team had always been working with the Government and the local authorities in making it all happen. The airline’s Regional Manager for the Caribbean, Judith Wilcox, explained that it was about a year ago that Virgin actually came in and had a look at the facilities and started the negotiations. “And we’re here today, basically, which is really exciting; a lot of planning has gone into it”. However, Virgin Atlantic is quite disappointed and has expressed serious concern that the proposed expansion of the facilities at Crown Point airport did not materialise in time for the airline’s arrival, as was promised. Said Wilcox, “I was very disappointed that the expansion that we believed would have been in place, for the development of Crown Point has actually not yet started.” She said that remains true today.  “We are very anxious to see the expansion project actually start, and that the facilities  for the passengers who will be transiting through the airport will be improved.” Branson added, “I mean, I think, without knowing the facts, I think you got a very good runway, you got a very good airport; (but) without a good terminal facility you not going to get airlines coming to Tobago”. In an immediate response, THA Chief Secretary Orville London said he had been in conversation with the Transport Minister and tenders were to be put out within the next two to three weeks for the first phase of the expansion works which should be completed in about six months.