Copa Airlines flies to TT

Speaking at a news conference at the TT Manufacturers Association’s headquarters in Barataria to announce the establishment of a TT trade facilitation office in Cuba, Valley said BWIA’s restructuring remains Government’s top priority and there was no reason to be concerned about Copa sidelining the national airline. Noting that the development of air transportation routes was an integral part of Government’s trade and investment strategy, the minister said it was not the "end of the world" if BWIA could not service those routes.

He said that while Government focuses on restructuring BWIA for maximum efficiency, Copa will begin flights into TT from mid-June.

Discussions will be held with Liat and a Brazilian airline about what kinds of hub-and-spoke flight arrangements could be worked out.

Speaking afterwards with Newsday, Valley said he saw a restructured BWIA operating along some of the same routes which some of these airlines will be operating on. He added that this could only redound to BWIA’s benefit as the airline would constantly have to find ways to improve its efficiency.