By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALS yesterday commissioned the first of Bahamasair’s five new ATR 72-600 series aircraft to touch down at the Lynden Pindling International Airport worth $20.7m.

The fleet of aircraft along with the needed spare parts cost taxpayers around $100m.

Acting Prime Minister Philip “Brave” Davis said this level of investment has not come to the airline since April 1990 under a previous Progressive Liberal Party administration.

He said: “This investment facilitates the encouragement of the business environment, the promotion of safety and security, bolsters the pillars for health and hygiene, and ensures the vital air linking of Family Islands.

“But beyond that, this investment brings to force the broader indication for enabling policy and conditions to encourage growth in the tourism and transport sectors.

“Bahamasair must now explore its options for price competitiveness. It is also critical to implement the use of technological advances and innovative processes that can increase both efficiency and security of travel.”

He continued: “Today we now see the birth of the changing of the fleet. This government is keenly aware that investing now is critical, not solely to avoid paying more later; but to redouble the efforts to bolster our airlift capacity and to ensure that the reputation of Bahamasair remains intact.”

Chairman of the Bahamasair Board of Directors Valentine Grimes said the four remaining planes will be delivered during the next six months and will have a mixed configuration of two brand new 70 seaters and three new 50 seaters.

The 70-seat models will service high-density routes such as Nassau to Freeport to Ft Lauderdale and Nassau to Marsh Harbour to West Palm Beach.

He said: “Overall, this new fleet of aircraft will improve service and reliability, thereby enhancing the customer satisfaction. It will reduce maintenance costs significantly over the next three years, reduce fuel consumption, saving costs and will reduce or eliminate dependency on sub services.”