BRITISH Airways is calling on tourist boards and local
Governments in the Caribbean for financial help to secure its flights to the
region.
If BA fails to get help it may drop some islands from its
summer 2002 schedule.
BA has been talking to governments and tourism bodies of St
Lucia, Tobago, Antigua, Jamaica and Grenada asking for marketing support,
reduced hotel rates for crew and cheaper landing costs.
BA head of leisure Robin Hayes said: “We need to reduce our
operating costs in the Caribbean. We are asking governments and tourist boards for
assistance, but it’s no different to what we’ve always done, perhaps a bit more
intense.”
Caribbean Tourism Organisation director marketing Europe Jo
Spalburg said: “This is the first time BA has asked for subsidies of this sort.
I deplore these practices and hope some kind of arrangement will be feasible.”