British Airways Counter – St. Kitts Airport
Photo By Erasmus Williams
Basseterre, St. Kitts – Nevis
January 07, 2009 (CUOPM)
Preparations were being finalised Thursday for Saturday’s arrival of British Airways inaugural flight from London-Gatwick into St. Kitts’ Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport.
The British Airways signature has been mounted above two counters between American Airlines and LIAT to receive the first outbound passengers.
When the 280-seat Boeing 777 aircraft touches down at 4:45 P.M. St. Kitts and Nevis Minister of State for Tourism, Sports and Culture, Sen. the Hon. Richard Skerritt; Minister of Housing, Agriculture and Fisheries, Hon. Cedric Liburd, Nevis’ Minister for Communications, Works, Public Utilities, Hon. Carlisle Powell and Chairman of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Mr. Alphonso O’Garro, will be among the passengers.
Also onboard will be top British Airways officials including General Manager of UK & Ireland Sales, Richard Tams; Business Development Manager, Alison Nichols; Karen Gordon (Marketing) and Public Relations manager, Amanda Allan.
Several key travel trade media representatives including Alan Orbell of Selling Long Haul; Martin Ferguson of Travel Trade Gazette and Jo Gardner from ABTA Magazine will also be on the inaugural flight.
During a cocktail reception, a short ceremony to mark the inaugural flight will be chaired by the Tourism Authority’s new Marketing Communications Manager, Mr. Saju NG’alla.
Opening remarks will be said by Minister Skerritt prior to Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas presenting tokens to the British Airways pilots.
The visiting top British Airways will make brief remarks before presenting a token to Prime Minister Douglas. This will be followed by remarks by the Prime Minister.
The new BA service will depart London Gatwick’s airport at 10.30 a.m., arriving at Robert L. Bradshaw International at 16.45. The return flight will leave St. Kitts at 18.45, arriving at London (Gatwick) at 07.50 the next day.
The new weekly flight by BA will not only increase capacity to the destination, but the inclusion of the Club World seats also means that it will be easier for upmarket UK tour operators to sell both islands of the Federation.
The London Gatwick service will also connect a wide array of UK and European cities served by BA.