Redjet gets green light for Trinidad route

Port-of-Spain: New regional low-cost airline Redjet, has been given the green light to begin flying to this country but the inaugural flight is being delayed by at least one week to allow the Cabinet to give the final stamp of approval next Thursday.

The announcment was made by Minister of Works and Transport, Jack Warner this morning after meeting with Redjet officials.

The airline had called on the government to meet with its executives to find a quick resolution after Minister Warner had indicated there was no official documentation to allow the airline to begin operating the Trinidad route.

Minister Warner told the media this morning that Redjet has been granted a permit by the Civil Aviation Authority to fly here and that a new board of the Air-Transport Licensing Authority will be installed Monday, with the redjet approval, the first thing on the agenda.

The Minister said that following that approval, the matter would be taken to Cabinet on Thursday May 12th, 2011.

However this would be after the May 8th date that Redjet had advertised for start-up operations. The new start-up date is now likely to be Sunday May 15th, 2011.

Airline officials say they will seek to accomodate passengers who were booked on flights between May 8th and May 15th on the earliest flights available but it has already said that it has not as yet taken any money from passengers for any flights.

Minister Warner says that even after the Cabinet meeting he will seek to speed up the application process.

Airline officials thanked the minister for his role in speeding up negotiations. Redjet is to hold a news conference at 1 pm.