Above: a Sunrise Airways plane

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Haiti’s Sunrise Airways is continuing its regional expansion.

The Port-au-Prince-based carrier announced that it had signed a Subservice Flight Agreement with Tortola-based BVI Airways, meaning it will operate BVI Airways flights from Tortola to Dominica and St Maarten while a BVI Airways plane undergoes scheduled maintenance checks and refurbishment in the United States.

“This is another proud feather in the cap of Sunrise Airways as we’re the first Haitian airline to be granted the necessary approvals to operate this type of Subservice Agreement for a foreign carrier,” said Philippe Bayard, president of Sunrise Airways. “This further underscores our uncompromising commitment to safety and the First World quality and professionalism of our overall flight operations. We are very pleased to be working with the team at BVI Airways and look forward to expanding our relationship in the future.”

BVI Airways CEO Luke Smith said the firm chose to work with Sunrise Airways “after a careful review of potential airline partners.”

“Our companies share a number of synergies in terms of aircraft, safety standards, management style, and customer service aimed at raising the bar on aviation in the Caribbean,” Smith said. “I’m confident our loyal passengers will enjoy the same comfortable and professional flight experience they’ve come to expect with BVI Airways as we move forward with Sunrise.”

Sunrise will operate its Jetstream 32 EP planes on the BVI Airways routes, running on Wednesdays and Saturdays in accordance with BVI Airways’ schedule.

The company said it would also operate charters on behalf of BVI Airways “as requested.”