March 20, 2008 — Focusing on bringing more flights to the big island, Gov. John deJongh Jr. named members to the newly minted St. Croix Blue Ribbon Airline Committee Wednesday.
Increasing air traffic to St. Croix has been a priority for deJongh — and for the previous administration as well.
For at least the past decade, government and private sector officials have described the situation as a kind of Catch-22 or chicken and egg question. Without a lot of direct flights, it is harder and more expensive for tourists to visit St. Croix. But on major festivities, there are not enough hotel rooms on St. Croix for the existing interest. Without more hotel rooms, airlines don’t want to assign flights that may fly only partly filled. Without more flights and tourist demand, hotels are hesitant to expand.
"To be successful in our goal of increasing air traffic to St. Croix, we must begin the process of strengthening our relationships with existing air carriers and develop innovative strategies to attract additional carriers," deJongh said.
Such objectives can best be achieved through a partnership of private and public members, deJongh said.
"I anticipate this committee will meet at least six times per year to review and provide suggestions on the marketing strategy for maintaining and increasing airlift to St. Croix," he said.
Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty and Patrick Henry, President of the Hotel and Tourism Association will co-chair the Committee.
Omer ErSelcuk, president of the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce and president of Seaborne Airlines, is also member of the panel.
"It dovetails nicely with the governor's philosophy of the private sector working together with public sector and the community," ErSelcuk said. "What the airlines like to see is all important sectors can come together to support existing airline service, most importantly, to keep it and then to grow it."
ErSelcuk said he was flattered and honored to be selected and praised Nicholson-Doty for her efforts with the airline industry.
"She has primary responsibility for air service, but this panel is serving as a synergistic boost to her efforts," he said. "Her efforts have been just huge in terms of supporting the airline industry. Airlines are the lifeline of our tourist industry and this panel is part of that effort as well."
The group arose in part after recent meetings with Peter Dolara, American Airlines vice president for the Caribbean, Latin America and Mexico; it will continue to communicate with Dolara and other airline executives, ErSelcuk said.
V.I. National Park Superintendent Joel Tutein, another panel member, spoke to the Source Thursday and he too noted the way the panel brought in people from diverse sectors who play a role in tourism.
"It's an honor to have been selected to do this," Tutein said. "I was meeting here with the Assistant Secretary of the Interior when they met with airline officials recently in Florida. But I am as anxious, as I am sure the other members are, to see how we can bring in more tourism and get St. Croix some airlines coming in."
The other members are:
— Rupert Ross, president, Frederiksted Economic Development Authority;
— Christine Hilty, president of the Christiansted Retailers & Restaurant Association;
— Larry Kupfer, president, Hovensa;
— Michael Navarro, representative of American Airlines;
— Elizabeth Armstrong, general manager, The Buccaneer Hotel.
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