A Cabinet minister this Wednesday met with members of the Bahamas Airline Operators Committee (AOC).

“These meetings reaffirm my ministry’s ongoing commitment since day one to engage in meaningful collaboration with aviation industry professionals on government support, human capital development, standardised operations, enhanced emergency planning, improved passenger experience and enhanced safety and security for all air users”, said Jobeth Coleby-Davis, minister of energy, utilities and aviation.

The AOC’s goal is to generate collaboration among airlines operating at Lynden Pindling International Airport (LPIA). It works closely with the Bahamas Department of Aviation and serves as a collective voice to represent member carriers in discussions with government agencies such as the Airport Authority, Nassau Airport Development Company (NAD), Nassau Flight Services, the Civil Aviation Authority, Bahamas Air Navigation Services Authority and other service providers.

Mrs Coleby-Davis was joined by Dr Kenneth Romer, director of aviation and deputy director general of tourism; plus Elaine Foster, chairman of AOC and member airline operators including Western Air, British Airways, American Airlines, Caribbean Airlines, Southwest Airlines, JetBlue Airlines, Bahamasair, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Breezes Airways, Air Canada, Porter Airlines, Westjet and local Bahamian carriers

This attending included:

Shekera Sands - Nassau Flight Services business service manager

Carlysle Bourne – British Airways general manager

Dr Anthony Hamilton - president, Bahamas Association of Air Transport Operators (BAATO) and director of administration, Southern Air Charter

Ossie David - senior manager, business partner development, JetBlue

Hector Camacho - JetBlue regional manager, Caribbean BlueCities

Anishka Crawley-Fernander - Caribbean Airlines station manager

Desrick Phillips - Western Air, director of security

Randolph Ferguson - American Airlines, acting country manager, Bahamas

Jacqueline Bernard - Delta Air Lines supervisor

India Mackey - Bahamasair customer service manager

Brittni Bullard - customer service manager

Plato Thompson - executive manager projects, Nassau Flight Services, public relations officer for AOC

Endeavour Roach - station manager, Southwest Airlines, secretary, AOC

Glendina Woodside Bethel - JetBlue, vice-chairman, AOC

Elaine Foster - station manager United Airlines, chair AOC