During the Opposition’s radio programme, Just the Facts, Mr. Evans Rogers gave kudos to the current APM Government for continuing to pursue direct trans-Atlantic flights to Anguilla from the United States – an effort which the former AUF Government had started.
Mr. Rogers said he knew that Mr. Cardigan Connor, formerly Parliamentary Secretary, Tourism, and the Former Minister of Infrastructure, Mr. Curtis Richardson, were passionate about the matter. He recalled that they had travelled to New York for discussions with Jet Blue, American Airlines and Delta to begin scheduled flights to Anguilla.
“I want to ask you about this”, Mr. Rogers remarked to M. Connor. “This is because I want the electorate of Anguilla, and our people in the diaspora, and further afield to know, as most of them would have realised that what happen on Saturday, December 11 [the arrival of American Airlines], didn’t start on July 2021 [the day when the APM Government assumed office].”
Mr. Connor replied: “In 2018, when we really made a serious push to negotiate with Jet Blue, American Airlines and Delta, we employed a guy named Nick Wagner to make that happen. He first spoke to American Airlines which I think would have been our number one choice, coming out of Miami. Jet Blue was also interested and was coming out of Fort Lauderdale. Jet Blue seemed more ready at the time for the flights, so that was where all the energy was put; and it was believed that once we were able to get one airline to come to Anguilla, others would follow. They just wanted it to be viable.”
The former Parliamentary Secretary continued: “There is no doubting that American Airline would have been following the negotiations. They were always listening to Curtis Richardson, the former Minister, and they knew that he was on top of things, regarding getting the airport tower up and running; making sure that the fire trucks were in place; and also getting the PCN of the airstrip done. That commitment was made and of course, for us in tourism, we had to make it viable to any airline – and among the things we did was by being number one in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda for four years running. That said that Anguilla was continuing to grow.”
Mr. Connor added: “What we would have passed on to this current Government, despite the challenges of COVID-19, is that the foundation was already laid for the trans-Atlantic flights. And for American Airlines, the fact that a number of their hubs, throughout the Caribbean or destinations would have halted, they would have seen a great opportunity that Anguilla is ready. And so they decided that they would come in. Of course we would have loved to have been in office, as the Anguilla United Front, to see it through. But it doesn’t start and end with us. It is a case of we all having a role to play when we are called upon; and I think that what is important is what we pass on to this current administration – and that they appreciate that a lot of work was done beforehand.”
All three members of the Opposition said they would ensure that they were present at the Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport for the arrival of American Airlines on Saturday afternoon, December 11.
