Some travelers to Dominica are to receive relief as new airline, HummingbirdAir, is set to land, in the coming weeks.
The airplane will be moved to the Caribbean next week for flight tests and documentation and that process must be completed before services to the public can commence.
Head of Access Committee and Director of the Dominica Hotel and Tourism Association (DHTA), Herve Nizard, said at a forum of the organization’s 42nd Annual General Meeting on Wednesday afternoon that the initiative is undertaken by hotelier, Sam Raphael, proprietor of Jungle Bay Resort and Spa.
“This is a great local move which will give Dominica some air to breathe, first as replacement of air flights from St Croix but it will also elaborate flights to and from St Thomas. They later plan to add St Marteen and Barbados if the appropriate route rights are granted,” Nizard stated.
According to him, this initiative by Raphael is commendable although the DHTA regrets that such energy and investments have not been dedicated to set up an OECS or CARICOM approved scheduled airline.
Raphael in an earlier interview with Dominica News Online acknowledged that the airline will not solve the island’s air access issues however he noted that the initiative was one geared at reducing flight delays and setbacks of travelers to Dominica.
Hoteliers in Dominica have been complaining that air access to the island has been plaguing their businesses for some time now.
Humming BirdAir, which is starting operations with a 9-seater aircraft,will be offering chartered flights, with mixed passengers and cargo, from the hub of San Juan, Puerto Rico and The United States Virgin Islands to the Canefield airport.
The aircraft can safely transport at least 2,000 pounds.
canefield terminal is licking bad bad dont let rain catch u there
Am ready to invest in anything local pertaining to air transportation, let me know where to contact Mr Sam
. I also have a groups of guys here in the usa who is willing and able to invest in putting an international airstrip in dominica, we would take the loan for airport placing our own money as surety build it and run it with government approval and after monies invested is collected the government can take it over. We have had meeting to discuss the move. We have nothing and don’t want to have anything to do with the politics of Dominica, we are just a groups of Dominicans with money and we are fed up of having our country in the state its in regarding air lift. We would like to know what the other fellow Dominicans think of our plans. Feel free to share ur advice.looking forward to positive answers.
Why do we have to go to witch church to book a ticket? when we have our home computer, yet cannot get through to book our ticket from D.A to the U.S. is the system rig? so we have to go to withchurch? or is it the web site?, I have tried on several occasion to book a ticket back to the states and come hell or high water I cant get threw is the system rig to benefit a certain company? somebody enlighten me.
Grammar = Fail; Spelling = Fail; Punctuation = Fail
I will NOT be flying the HUMMINGBIRD nor LIAT. I will NOT be landing at CANEFIELD, EVER.
We are all longing for change, but man is that a small one! yes fufu is a small bird but please… 9 passengers? even the name sound larger than the plane.
Investing in a more reliable air craft is a need to ALL Dominicans not a want…but how many trips per day? filling the tank for a year in this small aircraft could cost a lot in gas if this idea is not put on hold, then withing a year or two purchase a much larger craft which could be of more benefit in the long run….Personally I see a waste of money…buying this fufu…nine bicycle could cost less, NO GAS NO INSURANCE, NO PILOT TO PAY..I want a BLUE…if you’re asking…
That’s no competition for liat, and canefield not me
support humming bird!!!
It’s really a Hummingbird i would like to know how old is the Hummingbird and secure is it’s insurance and what is the capital of the Hummingbird and also how many Hummingbirds does the company have and how experience is the pilot , i am sorry for being curious , the reason for my questions is i can remember a small plane crash where so many Dominicans perish in which i can recall problem the families of the victims is still waiting on insurance compensation well i have to be frank i do not know if the matter has been settle by now
9 seater that is a bird not an airplane
jackass
not any bird.a foo-foo.
Can u do better
good news we tired of liat
Anything but Liat!!!
So Sam was able to make this move and the people who are tourism and Government could not do this? what a shame
Well until they have bigger aircrafts, I will be using liat. 9 seater? including the 2 pilots? So it’s a 7 seater passenger aircraft. I’m pretty sure they will ask u to stand on the scales with your luggage in your hand (speaking from experience). Good idea but
those aircrafts are not for the
faint harted.
I was of the same opinion. A 9 Seater? and it will “help relieve flight delays?” Give me a break. I went to Barbados on a small plane and had to lie down on the floor. Almost lost my ear drum. A 22 seater plane would be a good start. I guess to some people, “half a loaf is better than none.”
Lol…. I agree
I think they said that this airline will be for chartered flights.
No sooner word went out that Dominica will very soon have a brand new Prime Minister in the person of Mr. Lennox Linton, things are beginning to happen. Watch out Dominica, according to Mr. Linton, “be careful what you ask for.” You asked for change, its now at your door steps.
dream on
I cant wait sick of liat
All the signs shows da is in need of international airport but still government keep turning a blind eye.
For sure, we know where the money Sam Raphael got from the Economic Citizen Programme is going – we see Jungle Bay which has helped put Dominica on the map al la ecotourism, Jungle Bay continues to employ over 70 employees and the surrounding villages benefit directly from the produce which are purchased from them on a daily basis. Again we see, Sam is now venturing into the very difficult waters of the airline business – we cannot say the same for the millions of dollars which Skeritt gets for the sale of our passports. Where is all this money going ??
Can they also look to add ANU by Feb next year
Great vibes. All the best!
that is very good, don’t like liat.
yaaahhhhhhhhhhh
Really folks…..a 9-seater and you guys call that progress. Wow!
They will pick up the passengers LIAT leaves behind.
Good things come in small doses anonymous. That plane is certified by the FAA and I will gladly use it, especially since it is flying from Canefield.
Website please
Thank god .. I made a promise mere will I return to my homeland Dominica .. If Liat is the airline that’s gonna take me there. The treatment towards customers this November after Dominica’ insependence celebrations .. Causing me to loose my connecting flight from San Juan . Having to purchase new tickets… Thank god on such a great idea / gesture
well done mr sam. hope we will have some larger carries soon.
Like all the rest this will come and go soon, nothing can touch LIAT.
This is the very ATTITUDE why LIAT DO NOT CARE.
You are right there! Nothing can touch LIAT as long as it is protected by Govts., who are supposed to look after the interests of the general public first.
Good, I just hope that plane to expand and use some of the profits to expand the business.
this is a very great venture and i applaud mr.Raphael, this is where our PM should have invested the $8 million burnt in LIAT ,creating jobs for young dominicans and the many local pilots who are engaged in other forms of employment while creating air access for visitors and locals who don’t want to use LIAT.i am certain that whc ever route is served many will utilise the service to send boxes and small envelopes to their elatives and families in DA
Thank you that $8 million he gave Antigua hurting my heart so many people unemployed in the country.
Great job Sam. Hope it grows into something bigger.
It’s about time that someone came into the fore front and give Liat some competition and the people need t hit Liat where it hurts, in their pockets. Support this new initiative send a message to Liat that we will not be held to ransome!
A nine seater plane carrying 2000 lbs. can give LIAT competition?
Something must be wrong with some of you people.
Please hasten to purchase larger Planes. I can’t wait
Do they have a website to purchase tickets?
Hooray. Good work Herve. We are planning a family vacation there this summer and the thought of flying Liat was a dread. Few options exist, but this is a positive step forward.
Great news and a welcome relief