Seaflight Ready to Offer Seaplane Services Once Seaborne's Exclusivity Deal Expires in 2026, Owner Says

Seaflight VI owner and president has said his company is ready to offer services at the V.I. Port Authority's seaplane port — which currently is under an exclusive agreement with Seaborne Airlines — once the exclusive agreement ends in 2026.

Speaking to the Consortium last week, Donald Lewis said his company would not only be ready to operate at the seaplane terminal, it would also be providing cheaper flights than what is currently being offered by Seaborne Airlines, suggesting instant benefit to consumers as soon as competition is allowed.

The Seaflight executive's comments come on the heels of a recent Senate hearing where lawmakers expressed disappointment that the V.I. Port Authority, when it was under the leadership of David Mapp, allowed an exclusive agreement that would have expired five years ago to be extended by 10 years.

"The port dropped the ball because the port had an opportunity to fight and to open up that port to additional airlines. They did not fight, they acquiesced and they signed," Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Kurt Vialet said during an August 12 VIPA budget hearing. "That's why it's going for five more years. We had the opportunity to open up the port to any airline that's a seaplane operation that wanted to use downtown, and we're feeling the effects now."