Government Scrambles to Save Punta Gorda Flights

With Tropic Air preparing to end scheduled flights to Punta Gorda, the government is scrambling to prevent a major gap in air service to southern Belize. Prime Minister John Briceño describes the airline’s withdrawal as a business decision, driven by low passenger demand and continued financial losses. Still, he acknowledges that the move could have serious consequences for Toledo’s residents, businesses and tourism sector. Briceño says discussions are already underway with Maya Air, and the government is considering possible support to ensure Punta Gorda does not lose its air connection altogether.

 

Prime Minister John Briceño

“It’s just simply that the costs continue to go up and there’s not enough traffic. Truth of the matter is, as he pointed out to me, he says they’re losing half a million dollars on that run to Punta Gorda. It’s unfortunate that he tied it up with other issues. We have a responsibility to make sure that the runways are safe, so we are going to upgrade that runway. He would benefit from it because then, you know, the road, the, the runway would be smoother, you know, bang your plane as much, and God forbid a tire go bust and we have an accident. So we have that responsibility. Then if we don’t do that and something happen like that, they will blame the government. We have to put in security. So who’s going to pay it for, the taxpayers or the people that are using the service? But even with that, we said, “Okay, we’re not going to implement the ten dollars today. We’ll start that it was six dollars in June of next year. So we’d even start to implement. So to say that I don’t think it was fair. But, you know, Max and I, we get along very well and I will sit down and talk to him and see if there’s anything that, that can be worked out.”

 

Briceño said the government is exploring ways to maintain air service to Punta Gorda, noting that, as it has done with the bus industry.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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