REDjet will not be able to fly into or out of T&T on Monday as it originally intended. This was revealed by Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner at a news conference following a meeting with officials of REDjet at his office on London Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday morning. Warner said he expected all outstanding approvals to be granted one week later. REDjet had advertised a May 8 start-up date for flying to and from T&T, with the lowest rates for passengers. But Warner raised concerns about the matter, indicating he was not aware of who or when permission was granted for the flights.
The airline was stopped from advertising, pending approval of all requirements to fly to T&T. Yesterday, Warner hastily arranged a meeting with REDjet because officials in his ministry, including permanent secretary Cheryl Blackman had a lunchtime flight to Barbados to further address the REDjet matter with officials there. "Seven days won't kill you," he told REDjet officials as they departed his office. Warner told reporters the Civil Aviation Authority wrote to REDjet on December 20, 2010, requesting three areas be addressed for the airline to be granted permission to fly in T&T: They were:
• Compliance with the Civil Aviation's foreign operator licence which gives the company permission to land here;
• approval from the Airline Transport Licensing Authority (ATLA); and,
• an operator's certificate to be approved by authorities in Barbados.
Warner said the Civil Aviation Authority discussed the operator's licence issue on Wednesday and it was agreed the airline be given a journey operator's licence to allow it to land in T&T. Warner said a formal letter was yet to be sent. On the second issue, he said the ATLA board would be appointed on Monday and would deal with the REDjet's application as its first priority.Dealing with the operator's certificate, Warner said he was advised it already has been granted by authorities in Bridgetown.
Warner said: "When all of this is done, I will take a note to Cabinet on Thursday and I do not see a problem.
"I assume the Cabinet will approve the note, honestly. I don't see why it should not (be approved) but the fact is that I have to go through that process." Warner said he would seek to have the requirement to have confirmation of the approval (which takes at least one week) waived to allow for a start-up of operations by REDjet by May 15. Warner apologised to the airline and passengers for the delay. He said: "We have certain processes to follow and it (flights) won't be able to start on Sunday as originally planned.