VIPA Waives Contour Landing Fees for a Year as St. Maarten Service Begins and More Caribbean Routes Are Discussed

ST. THOMAS — The V.I. Port Authority will waive 100 percent of Contour Airlines’ landing fees for up to one year as the carrier prepares to launch nonstop service between St. Thomas and St. Maarten, part of a broader effort by VIPA to make new Caribbean routes financially viable and persuade airlines to expand their presence in the territory. VIPA’s governing board approved the incentive Wednesday, days before Contour’s first scheduled flight between Cyril E. King Airport and Princess Juliana International Airport on October 5. The new service will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Fridays aboard a 30-seat regional aircraft, connecting two of the Caribbean’s major tourism markets without requiring passengers to travel through a mainland hub. VIPA staff told board members that landing-fee incentives are part of the authority’s air-service development strategy, particularly when attempting to establish international routes that may need time to build passenger demand. The Port Auth...