REDjet starts war on air fare

Speaking at the launch of the latest addition to the Caribbean airbridge at the Carlton Savannah, Burns said the airline is revolutionising air transport.

“It’s the start of war on high fares,” he told journalists yesterday.

As of yesterday, interested passengers were able to book online for flights to Barbados starting on May 8 and Jamaica, starting on May 11.

At the cost of US$9.99 for a one way non-stop flight, business development director Robbie Burns said this new price structure comes minus the trimmings that accompany regular air travel. That also means passengers would have to pay taxes separate from the air fair.

“We offer a simplified business model. We are the ‘Wal Mart’ of the skies,” he said. Other charges such as checked baggage, priority boarding, call centre or web processing fee, in- flight food and drinks as well as flight change fees are optional to the passenger. Regardless the outcome, the younger Burns said it will still be 60 percent cheaper than airlines on the same routes.

Burns said after Easter there will be open ticket outlets at specific Digicel stores.

The Barbados-based company has two MD-82 aircraft, purchased from American Airlines, that accommodate 149 passengers each. Two more aircraft will be added to fleet in the next three months.

However, it airline may not be able to stop at smaller airports in the Caribbean route map.

“We are not going to deviate. We are going to identify our strengths and stick within this,” he said.

The plan for a low-cost regional carrier began in 2007 and only came to fruition this week when the Barbados aviation authority announced REDjet met all the requirements for the AOC (air operating certificate).

One of its competitors has already begun shedding dollars off its airfare. Caribbean Airlines dropped its one-way fare to Barbados to US$90 and Jamaica now costs US$165.30.

Commenting on the new price, CAL’s communications manager Laura Asbjornsen said the change is nothing new.

“We would regularly analyse the competitive market and respond accordingly,” she said. “We are ready to do what needs to be done to maintain market share and what our customers need.”