InterCaribbean Airways announced that they are indefinitely cancelling all flights to two islands that make up the tri-island territory of the U.S. Virgin Islands on April 24. The airline says they are ending all flights to St. Thomas and St. Croix until further notice.
In a statement, the company says that the flight disruption is the result of delayed management and incomplete paperwork with a handling company that would triple and quadruple costs to operate. And without the proper agreements signed, carrier operation cannot proceed out of the two islands.
According to a spokesman, InterCaribbean is already is already in talks with other companies to facilitate this technical process to possibly resume flights by this winter.
“We expect that with added time we will seek an alternative solution. In the time since the announcement we have heard from a new alternative company, and will engage with them in their interest to work with us,” he said.
Ticket-buyers concerned about planned trips have already reached out about refunds, and arrangements are also being made for fliers who are maintaining a portion of their travels.
“Each and every customer who is affected is entitled to a full refund no questions asked, and the refund process is already well underway, with possibly as many as a third of all customers already in contact,” he said. “Some customers wish to keep parts of their travel booked with us, so we are working with every customer once we hear from them. Customers are being contact individually in date order with nearest first and continuing to later dates.”
The spokesman for the airline hopes to have flights resumed by the end of this year but says they are working on ensuring and managing a resolution.
“We are hopeful that the impediments can be overcome, and that we can offer the kind of service to the USVI we have become known for,” said the spokesman. “Once and if we are clear of these issues then we will determine a time to start the service.”
