Bahamasair: Round Two

by Craig Butler

Most people have a horror story or two to tell about our national flag carrier - Bahamasair - but they can also cite an incident to explain why they continue to maintain their loyalty.

A close friend and colleague told me that when she was studying in the US northeast and it was time to come home at Christmas the travel agents would invariably tell her there were no flights. Her standard response was always 'just get me to Miami and Bahamasair will get me home'. I can attest to that being true.

Others like the fact that the flag carrier doesn't hassle passengers about overweight bags. But these things also explain why Bahamasair continuously dithers on the brink of going under.

In a statement published by the Nassau Guardian recently, Bahamasair responded to what I complained about in my last column and I have to take exception to what they said.

Managing Director Henry Woods sought to justify the airline's behaviour by saying it is concerned about its safety record. That explanation misses the point entirely.

What I and many others are upset about is the lack of information from Bahamasair representatives about departure times and the way that passenger priorities are assigned.

Contrary to Mr Woods' statement it was never announced that the jet was out of service. If that had been the case, there would have been an explanation as to how the airline was going to get everyone to their destination in stages. Nothing like that ever happened.

As frustrating as it is to have to wait when one is on a schedule, I accept that things happen that are beyond our control. Accordingly, rather than attempting to deceive or to ignore the problems that exist one should face them head on.

But when the flight announcement is made for those who are traveling with infants or those who require help to board, the airline is intentionally giving the impression that everyone will be accommodated.

As to the offering of vouchers for meals, if this took place I didn’t hear it and neither did I receive a voucher. An announcement was made about travel vouchers and a line did form to collect these, but I believe this was a ploy to divert attention and avoid a melee.

You don’t think I want to be proud and patronize my national flag carrier? Of course I do. But nothing gets me more upset than when people go about their jobs in such a manner that the customers don’t matter.

To have to sit in that departure lounge and listen to the tourists booked on the flight complain made me cringe. I hope my criticisms will lead to a change in the way things are done. As a businessman I need to know that nine times out of ten when I make arrangements I will be able to follow through on them and I’m sorry that I can’t trust Bahamasair to deliver.

Minister Zhivago Laing.

What in God’s name could have made the Minister of State for Finance initiate a lawsuit against PLP MPs Dr. Bernard Nottage and Frank Smith, and retired comptroller of Customs John Rolle?

The prime minister is as astute a politician as there is and I’m sure he could not have approved such an asinine move. Whilst on the one hand the matter being laid before the courts prevents further discussion it also indicates that the questions surrounding the issue were getting the better of the minister.

It was a move spawned out of desperation, which will only backfire by infusing the issue with more life and raising more questions.

According to Fred Smith, the minister's lawyer, ‘the minister was left with no alternative but to bring the matter before the courts.’ He further charged that the opposition's accusations were politically motivated.
Minister Laing is claiming damages for defamation, and is seeking an injunction restraining the defendants from further publishing the defamatory words.

With the greatest respect, in the circumstances the minister ought to resign forthwith from the cabinet so that he can defend himself. Once he would have resolved his legal issue he can then seek reappointment by the prime minister.

Comments

[EB Christen]

Disband the airline already.

We save tax payer dollars that can be used for education and/or crime prevention. We simultaneously open up the market for private entrepreneurs to do family island flights and/or ferries and for the other commercial airlines to open up more routes to and from the Bahamas.

How many millions need to be lost before this reality sinks in?

Who cares if getting someone to Miami is good enough to get them home on Bananasair or that over-sized items are allowed... both of those facts actually reflect poorly on the airline's ability to work in a predictable, rule based manner.

Bahamasair will never turn around. The inability to digest this fact doesn't mean it is less of a fact.