By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

BAHAMASAIR "resumed normal operations" this morning and the "sick out" has ended, according to a statement from Bahamasair. Airline management said it anticipates that the backlog of passengers will be cleared in short order.

"Bahamasair will continue to execute its contingency plan to ensure that all passengers’ bags will be in Nassau for the Christmas holiday," the statement said. "Bahamasair extends sincerest apologies and deepest appreciation to the travelling public for their understanding and patience displayed during the recent unlawful industrial action taken by members of the Bahamas Airline Pilots Association (BALPA).

"The company realises the enormous discomfort the actions of a few may have created and sincerely hope that it has not caused any lasting harm to the holiday season.

"Contrary to statements made, management of Bahamasair wishes to advise the public that our standing contingency plan was mobilised. This contingency plan is a standing operating procedure for Bahamasair and has at its core route coverage through local sub-service carriers and wet lease agreements with foreign carriers. This is done to avoid service disruptions not just in the case of industrial actions but when there are other emergencies as well."

According to the statement, when BALPA members were made aware of Bahamsair's contingency plans, they "immediately contacted their union counterparts in the United States, who in turn decided they would not fly as a part of the wet lease agreement".

"Subsequently, three Florida based carriers who had reached agreement to provide multiple flights for Bahamasair from early yesterday morning withdrew from these agreements; which ultimately resulted in major passenger backlogs. In essence our contingency plan was sabotaged," the statement said.

"Statements attributed to Captain Moxey that they returned to work as a result of Bahamasair not having a contingency plan, begs the question as to why they would have chosen the busiest season of the year to carry out an illegal industrial action, knowing full well that the end results would have resulted in thousands of passengers being displaced.

"Management wishes the travelling public to know that any individual who was not able to travel as scheduled will be compensated and or re-accommodated without penalty."