{"id":26470,"date":"2015-08-04T23:15:26","date_gmt":"2015-08-04T23:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/viconsortium.com\/?p=26470"},"modified":"2015-08-05T12:37:17","modified_gmt":"2015-08-05T12:37:17","slug":"senator-calls-on-seaborne-airlines-to-adjust-rates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/wp.viconsortium.com\/?p=26470","title":{"rendered":"Senator Calls On Seaborne Airlines To Adjust Rates"},"content":{"rendered":"

ST. CROIX — Senator Kenneth Gittens said he is keeping a close watch\u00a0on the steady increase in cost of inter-island air travel across the territory, according to a press release Gittens issued on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

In a letter to\u00a0Seaborne executive, Mr. Gary Foss, the senator asked for a re-evaluation of rates and said\u00a0the islands of the territory are uniquely different and that their full experience cannot be collectively realized if the cost of travel is astronomical.<\/p>\n

Gittens said there has been a steady increase in airfare for travel within the territory that is\u00a0crippling business’ networking capabilities, hindering opportunities for family bonding,\u00a0limiting social\/cultural growth and exchange between the islands.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is ridiculous when\u00a0you think of how the rates, particularity for Seaborne, have been on the rise in recent years\u00a0and I am now calling for a reduction in the ticket rates,” the second-term senator said. “Realizing that we are a territory\u00a0divided solely by 40 miles of the Caribbean Sea, it should not cost more to travel between\u00a0islands than it is to travel to the continental United States, as we’ve seen occasionally.”<\/p>\n

Seaborne Airlines, one of The Virgin Islands Consortium<\/em>‘s advertising partners, has moved to allay the senator’s concerns by making available a special rate for inter-island travel at $79 each way. However, the ticket needs to be purchased 7 days in advance, according to the ad<\/a><\/span>, which goes live on The Consortium<\/em> tonight.<\/p>\n

Senator Gittens said the Virgin Islands Government was instrumental in lending a helping\u00a0hand to the airline several years ago when their financial outlook was bleak and because of\u00a0the assistance, they were able to see a turn around and reap financial gains.<\/p>\n

\u201cSince our\u00a0generous bailout to Seaborne, the company has relocated its headquarters from St. Croix to\u00a0Puerto Rico. When I look at this, I am of the opinion that Seaborne is not acknowledging its\u00a0obligation to the territory. They must be fair in setting its rates, realizing that the people of\u00a0the territory deserve the freedom to travel within the territory without experiencing a\u00a0financial hardship,\u201d said Gittens.<\/p>\n

The lawmaker said he realizes that running the airline is a business built on making profits,\u00a0but the profit margins should not be expected to be such that it creates a burden on the\u00a0passengers.<\/p>\n

\u201cHaving to pay sometimes as much as $300 for a roundtrip ticket between the\u00a0islands is something that our residents should never have to experience,” Gittens contends. “Travel between\u00a0the islands should be affordable to ensure the maximum experience of the traditionally\u00a0close-knit Virgin Islands community.”<\/p>\n

He concluded: “I am again calling on Seaborne executives to reevaluate\u00a0their business plans and rate adjustments to assist the territory\u2019s visitors and\u00a0residents during a time when we are all in need of a bit of relief.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

ST. CROIX — Senator Kenneth Gittens said he is keeping a close watch\u00a0on the steady increase in cost of inter-island air travel across the territory, according to a press release Gittens issued on Tuesday. In a letter to\u00a0Seaborne executive, Mr. Gary Foss, the senator asked for a re-evaluation of rates and said\u00a0the islands of the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[11,191,147],"tags":[2830,71,69,70,121],"yoast_head":"\nSenator Calls On Seaborne Airlines To Adjust Rates - V.I. Consortium<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"ST. 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