VIPA Board Mulls Over Connectivity Challenges, Sends Lindbergh Bay Project Back Out to Tender
The V.I. Port Authority Board of Governors met for their regular monthly meeting earlier this week, receiving updates on ongoing work and discussing other matters of import to VIPA and the territory.
2023-02-24 14:09:08 - VI News Staff
VIPA Executive Director Carlton Dowe spoke about the “3P Airports Industry Forum” held to begin the detailed selection process that will ultimately lead to VIPA’s selection of a private-sector partner to modernize and operate the U.S.V.I’s two airports. Mr. Dowe noted that over 60 industry professionals took part in that event, and he also apprised the board of the multitude of appearances he had made on local media platforms, educating the public about the project and its process.
Timelines for the next stages - the question and answer period, and the submissions of the Request for Qualifications packages - are standing firm, Mr. Dowe said, emphasizing the agency’s commitment to maintaining a transparent and efficient process throughout.
Once again, the board discussed one of VIPA’s thorniest issues - air and sea connections between islands. Recent challenges with ferry service between St. Thomas and St. Croix were a result of a reduction in fleet capacity since one operator reportedly had three ferries simultaneously out of service due to the need for maintenance and repairs. Another company was only operating one boat, which was inadequate for the demand. These issues are being addressed, and the board once again noted the need for a collaborative approach with other agencies to support the operation of the ferry service.
The chronic lack of adequate air connections between islands and also to neighboring Caribbean countries came up for discussion again, as it did during the last board meeting. Members were informed that while efforts were made to explore the possibility of LIAT adding additional flights into the territory, the struggling airline was not at this point capable of doing so. Other commuter carriers that might service internal routes were still struggling to attract and retain sufficient numbers of pilots due to the elevated global demand for qualified pilots.