-
- Landmark decision to reduce airport service charge
- Milestone paves way for other Caribbean gov’ts to follow, further stimulating intra-regional air travel as never before.
PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti – Sunrise Airways Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Philippe Bayard, issued the following statement today applauding the government of Barbados’ recent landmark decision to reduce its airport service charge in order to stimulate regional air travel:
“The government of Barbados, and in particular minister of tourism and international transport, Ian Gooding-Edghill, are to be commended for their bold and progressive leadership toward improving air travel within the Caribbean basin. For far too long, high airport service charges have severely hindered growth and customer satisfaction in the Caribbean aviation sector. They’ve rendered existing airfares too costly for consumers, while also making the addition of new routes to better connect our islands economically unfeasible. By reducing its airport service charge, Barbados will benefit in the form of more flights and increased visitors.
“These incremental visitors will contribute greatly to the country’s GDP across a broad spectrum of critical industries. Much more than a simple tax cut, the move represents a shrewd investment on the part of Barbados; an investment in its overall economy and its citizens. It is a landmark decision that we hope will spur additional Caribbean governments to follow for the better good of our shared economic prosperity as One Caribbean moving forward.”
“The initial six-month airport service charge reduction period is a great first step that we feel will go a long way toward finally bringing some much-needed reform to the Caribbean’s aviation taxation system.”
On July 5, 2023, The Airport Service Charge (Amendment) Bill 2023 was passed in The Senate of Barbados (Upper House). As a result, the Barbados airport service charge was reduced from US$35 to US$20. The reduction will be in place until December 14, 2023.
