Cost of Swift Air wet lease ‘not borne by taxpayers.’

On the cost of this arrangement, Ligoure said this was private information but that the cost was one “that was not borne by taxpayers.” She described Swift Air’s operating a wet lease on the domestic air bridge as “nothing unusual.” The aircraft, she said, “is dedicated to Tobago.” Ligoure confirmed that Swift Air was based in Madrid, Spain, and that the carrier has leased one aircraft to CAL.

Asked if the arrangement between Swift Air and CAL was arrived at to accommodate increased travel between the islands, Ligoure said such arrangements were “pretty normal” in the airline industry, adding: “When you look at the airline you make decisions based on what your needs are.” She said CAL had a wet lease “just last week” to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, US, and that Swift Air was a carrier that the national airline has dealt with before.

Asked if there were discussions between the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and CAL on the leasing of Swift Air, Ligoure said there are always discussions between the airline and the THA as the latter was one of its valued stakeholders.