Nevis, West Indies. ?A Non-Tourist-Trap? Blog About Nevis.

Cape Air Plane on Nevis Runway

Charlestown, Nevis
November 22, 2011

Despite an official ceremony planned for November 30, General Manager of the Nevis Air and Sea Ports Authority [NASPA], Mr. Spencer Hanley, and Airport Manager Mr. Stephen Hanley joined members of staff of the Vance W. Amory [VWA] International Airport in the inaugural welcome of United States-based airline, Cape Air.

Cape Air, which touched down at the former Newcastle Airport on November 11, has since been providing daily trips to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The longstanding company plans to extend its Nevisian service on December 22, with an additional flight. Since its inaugural flight, Cape Air has departed Nevis at 10:00 am and returned at 6:00 pm.

“We are extremely excited. It’s always good to have additional airlifts into Nevis, regardless of size,” General Manager Hanley said as he spoke with the Department of Information about the benefits to the island’s economy.

“It means landing fees, parking fees and other types of fees and it also means that tomorrow morning [November  12], the passengers who are outbound will be able to get out at an early time. It is extremely important to us, as a destination, as an airport, to be able to provide that type of service,” Mr. Hanley added.

Realising that many Nevisians desire to “take day trips to San Juan,” the NASPA official said the new service meant great things “for the tourism sector.”

“Now people can realise their dreams of flying directly into Nevis and also too, beyond that, even local persons whether you are the expats or the local you and me, we can now take day trips into San Juan and do our shopping and be able to get back here by night-time to enjoy Nevis,” General Manager Hanley explained.

Meantime, Airport Manager Hanley was particularly pleased to welcome the new service, as, according to him, “it had been rather slow” [recently] at the VWA International Airport.

“It has been difficult at times to see our way but we are happy for the additional business that is coming on and we are hoping that there would be others to follow,” Airport Manager Hanley said, adding that Cape Air’s service was expected to “assist the [tourism] industry.”

“Yes, it’s a smaller aircraft and it can only carry nine passengers at a time but every little bit counts and that is what we are hoping for: that we can build on this,” he said while noting that “Cape Air had done a lot of work in preparing” to add Nevis to its list of destinations.

“They had their maintenance crew in, their fuel people in, their station people in, the ramp trainers and everybody related in their aspect of the industry: all the ground work. I’m really impressed with their preparation and so I believe that they have done their homework and that they would certainly do a good job,” Airport Manager Hanley explained.

Captain Michael Aceto, like his passengers, received a “warm Nevisian welcome” from the airport’s staff, particularly Immigration Official, Mrs. Sandra Willett.

“I love serving Nevis,” he said as he underpinned the joy felt when “serving the community.”

“This place is beautiful. It’s wonderful and I’m having a lot of fun.”

Cape Air is headquartered in Cape Cod, Massachusetts and currently serves in excess of 50 destinations, including most of the Virgin Islands.

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3. Nevis Tourism Authority Head Challenges Windward Island Airways
4. American Airlines To Resume Daily Nevis Flights
5. Nevis Flights via American Airlines To Cost More

Nevis Tourism Head – John Hanley

Charlestown, Nevis
October 05, 2011

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nevis Tourism Authority (NTA) Mr. John Hanley challenged Windward Island Airways (Winair) to find a way to offer its passengers lower fares, to help stimulate travel demand.
He was at the time delivering remarks at a reception hosted by the airline recently in celebration of its 50th anniversary. He said though the airline had accomplished much over its 50 years, it was important for them to do even better than before.

“I challenge Winair to do all in its power to improve vital customer service excellence. I challenge Winair to continue to recognise the importance of punctuality and reliability while flying your deserving and discriminating passengers. I challenge Winair to be better corporate citizens by partnering with social and humanitarian causes in the five destinations it serves.

“I dare say that only when Winair is in a position to arise to the occasion and address these critical challenges that I have just mentioned, then and only then will they have the fortitude and competitive advantage which will ensure their survival in these difficult times,” he said.

While Mr. Hanley congratulated the Airline on its milestone, he registered hope that they would continue to provide an air bridge to St. Maarten for Nevisians and their guests for many years to come.

He said Winair had been important to Nevis over the past 30 years and adequate air connectivity was one of the most critical factors affecting the survival of the destination and the island’s tourism industry.

“Winair has been providing a high level of convenience to our locals and tourists alike, with direct connection to St. Maarten for shopping, for onward connections with over a dozen major airlines servicing North America, Latin America as well as Europe.

“Winair’s service has, for the most part, been reliable and punctual. Considering the fact that Winair flies to some of the smallest and most difficult little airports in the world, the airline must be very highly commended for its impeccable safety record,” he said.

Meantime, General Manager of the Airport at Newcastle Mr. Steven Hanley in brief remarks also noted the travelling public’s confidence in the airline over its 50-year and its exemplary safety record.

“As history shows Winair has proven their track record in safety. In the golden year of their existence, this remarkable airline has also demonstrated that no horizon is so far that it cannot be attained,” he said.

The Airport Manager explained that his association with Winair had spanned 22 years so far, first as a passenger then as an air traffic controller and now as airport manager.

He noted that the fact that the airline had survived the test of time, the uncertainty of passenger traffic numbers, administrative changes and challenges and modifications to schedules and destinations was testament to its resilience and its core staff.

However, Mr. Hanley also issued a challenge to Winair as it entered its 51st year of operations and another to Nevisians.

“Continue to be the faithful bridge over the waters between Nevis and St. Maarten and the other Netherland Antilles. Equally I challenge the Nevis public; let us repay the faithfulness of this airline with our continued support – Fly Winair,” he said.

Winair celebrated its 50th anniversary with a reception at each of its destinations.

Related posts:

1. WINAIR To Cease Flights To St. Kitts – Nevis
2. Nevis Island Tourism Authority Has A New CEO
3. Nevis Celebrates WINAIR 50 Years Of Service
4. Nevis Tourism Interests Looks Forward To American Eagle Flights
5. Flying To The Island Of Nevis Just Got Harder

US Airways Planes In St. Kitts
Photo By Erasmus Williams

Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
September 26, 2011 (CUOPM)

The St. Kitts and Nevis Air and Seaports Authority (SCASPA) is reporting a ten percent increase in cruise passenger arrivals for the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

SCASPA is also reporting a near four percent decrease in passengers arriving at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport for the first three months of 2011.

According to SCASPA’s Statistics Department, 234,417 cruise passengers visited St. Kitts for the first three months of this year compared to 212,849 for the same period in 2010 and 182,508 for the same period in 2009.

Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Victory brought the largest number, 37,257 passengers from a total of 19 calls. This was followed by Celebrity Eclipse with 17,479 passengers from 7 calls; Azura with 15,634 passengers from 5 calls; Emerald Princess, 15,422 passengers from 6 calls; the Celebrity Summit with 14,685 passengers from 9 calls; Norwegian Dawn with 14,322 passengers from 8 calls; Carnival Miracle, 13,479 from 7 calls; Serenade of the Seas, 13,342 passengers from 9 calls and Grand Princess, 12,877 passengers from 6 calls.

SCASPA reports 33,332 passengers arrived at the Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport for the first quarter of this year compared to 34,708 passengers, a drop of 1,376 or a 3.96 percent decline.

Passengers leaving declined 1.49 percent for the first quarter this year, down 523, from 34,988 in 2010 to 34,465 in 2011.

American Airlines brought in the most passengers, 14,161  during the first three months of this year; followed by LIAT, 8,745; American Eagle, 2,811; British Airways, 2,198, Delta Airlines, 1,760 passengers; US Airways, 1,484 and Miami Air 1,374.

SCASPA also reports a 14 percent increase in cargo exports and a 22 percent decrease in cargo imports through the airport for the first quarter of this year.

At the sea port, SCASPA reports an overall one percent increase in total imports and an 18 percent increase in exports.

Figures show a 45 percent increase in the importation of building materials for the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year. A 3 percent increase in refer cargo/frozen items, a 6% percent decline in cement imports; a 24 percent increase in fuel and oils; a five percent decrease in general cargo and a 39 percent decline in general cargo were recorded.

SCASPA’S Statistics Department reported a 13 percent increase in the export of alcohol and non-alcohol beverages; a 100 percent export of building materials and a 9 percent drop in the export of refer cargo/frozen items.

Cargo for Nevis increased 167 percent from 155 tons for the first quarter of 2010 compared to 899 tonnes for the first quarter of this year.

Related posts:

1. St. Kitts – Nevis Reports Drop In Air Passenger Arrivals
2. St. Kitts Reports a 340% Increase In Cruise Passengers
3. St. Kitts’ Airport Records Passenger Increase In 2008
4. St. Kitts Records Record Number Of Cruise Ship Arrivals
5. St. Kitts – Nevis Has 10% Increase In Cruise Passengers