Sky Bahamas (Nassau International) has been forced to suspend flight operations pending the renewal of its Air Operator's Certificate (AOC) by the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority (BCAA).
In a statement issued July 20, the domestic passenger carrier said only that its flights had been indefinitely postponed pending the permit's renewal.
In an interview with Bahamian newspaper, The Tribune, earlier this week, airline chief executive Randy Butler confirmed that Sky Bahamas had continued to operate commercial flights while awaiting the BCAA's renewal of its previous AOC which had expired on June 29. According to him, the regulator had then directed the airline to suspend all flights effective July 8. On July 9, a meeting with the BCAA was called during which, Butler said, the regulator “came up with some ridiculous findings” in relation to a recent safety audit.
He questioned the BCAA's methods and procedures claiming that during the meeting, he highlighted to the regulator that Sky Bahamas had sent its response to them addressing all safety concerns some 30 days previously.
As such, the need to resume operations has become dire given a lack of cash flow and recurring financial commitments.
“We’re in a position where there’s not a lot to pull from any more,” he told Tribune Business. “It’s critical. We had a run on the bank last week when word got out and everybody was calling. We had a meeting and we said if we don’t get it today [July 23] we will have to make some hard decisions tomorrow. It’s critical now. We’re there right now. I met with my folks today to tell them we need to get the air operator certificate today or tomorrow. That’s how critical it is. We are right there. We are there.”
Sky Bahamas operates regular passenger flights from Nassau International to each of Cat Island, Marsh Harbour, and Moss Town using an all-Saab (Sweden) fleet of two Saab 340As and one Saab 340B. However, only Saab 340A C6-SPD (msn 340A-021) and C6-SBK (msn 340B-196) were active until July 8.
Charles Beneby, the BCAA's director-general, later told the Tribune Business that the regulator was still considering whether to renew Sky Bahamas’ AOC.
“Sky Bahamas’ AOC has expired so we are in the process of going through our due diligence to ensure it is a licence or certificate we would want to renew," he said. "Sky is responsible for its own operations. It wasn’t because of any action by the Bahamas Civil Aviation Authority that caused Sky to be able to fly or not be able to fly. Until such time as [the AOC] is renewed, they would not be able to operate."
Butler has since told ch-aviation he expects the new AOC to be issued on July 24 at which time flights will resume.
