interCaribbean Airways Wants Regional Govt’s to Cut Airline Taxes

Regional carrier interCaribbean Airways wants regional governments to cut airline taxes to encourage growth in the industry and increase visitor arrivals.

The airline services 27 cities across the Caribbean, from Havana in the west to Georgetown to the south.

Mahiri Stewart has that story.

Chief Executive Officer of interCaribbean Airways, Trevor Sadler, says his airline pays over three-hundred-US-dollars per person in taxes in each of the countries to which it flies.

He says this cost is prohibitive.

Sadler was speaking on the final day of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourist Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace on Wednesday.

The event was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in St James.

The InterCaribbean head lamented the administrative costs associated with paying the various fees to the various governments.

According to Sadler it would be prudent for government to cut the taxes it levies by at least 50 per cent.

InterCaribbean Airways is a 22-year-old regional carrier based in the Turks and Caicos Islands with a fleet of 35 aircraft.

Sadler says that makes it bigger than all four government airlines across the Caribbean combined.

The airline CEO says 50 per cent if its passengers are international travellers.