Log In

Reset Password
BERMUDA | RSS PODCAST

No reduction in flights to Bermuda

No response: Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Tourism. (Photograph by Blaire Simmons)

No plans to cut flights to Bermuda have been announced amid concerns over a potential killer strain of coronavirus, a spokeswoman for airport operators Skyport said yesterday.The spokeswoman added: “We have not been advised by airlines of any reductions that will affect Bermuda at this time. “Skyport is closely monitoring the impact the coronavirus is having on the travel industry, specifically on our day-to-day air passenger traffic.” She was speaking after it was announced that two airlines that fly to Bermuda planned to cut routes in response to the Covid-19 outbreak.Delta Air Lines, which operates daily Atlanta, Boston and New York flights to and from the island, said that it was cutting international flights by up to 25 per cent and domestic routes by 10 to 15 per cent. The airline added that it would continue to make adjustments to planned capacity as “demand trends change”. A Delta spokeswoman said: “Details of our expanded schedule changes will be shared later this week.” American Airlines, which operates daily services between Bermuda and New York and Miami, announced that it would reduce its international capacity for the summer peak season by 10 per cent. The airline added that domestic capacity would fall by 7.5 per cent next month. A spokesman said: “We have not reduced any service to Bermuda at this time.” JetBlue, which flies to Bermuda from New York and Boston, was reported last week to be reducing capacity by about 5 per cent. The airline did not respond to a request for comment on if Bermuda would be affected by the cuts. Zane DeSilva, the Minister of Tourism, was asked if talks had been held with airlines and if there had been any indication that there would be cuts in flights to the island. He was also asked if there were contingency plans to deal with a flight reduction. He did not respond by press time yesterday. News of airline capacity reduction came after the United States and Canadian Governments warned their citizens this week to avoid cruise ship travel. A total of 22 ships are scheduled to visit Bermuda next month, with 24 in May and 23 in June. David Burt, the Premier, said last week that the virus “could be an existential threat” to Bermuda’s tourism and financial services industries. There have been no confirmed or suspected cases of Covid-19 in Bermuda.