PUNTA GORDA AIRSTRIP REPAIRS IN PROGRESS

January 08, 2008

Much needed repair works has begun on the Punta Gorda Airstrip runway. Love News received word this morning that the machinery were on site around 11 this morning to start the process of upgrading the runway to one that will make way for safe landing in that municipality.  In speaking with Love News in December, Quality and Flight Program Manager told us that Maya Island Air will cease their daily flights to that municipality until the runway is properly fixed. This decision was made on the bases of safety for passengers and pilots.  Tropic Air however continued their flights to that municipality. Regional Manager for Tropic Air Amado Badillo told love news that they are using an alternate airstrip until repairs is completed.

Amado Badillo,Regional Manager for Tropic Air:

“Tropic Air is flying to an alternate area in Punta Gorda. The name of the area is Rio Dorado and it’s located in the Big Falls area. Unfortunately for our customers it’s approximately 35-45 min drive possibly from the Punta Gorda Town and so it’s very convenient for the customers but hopefully within seven days time we will be back to normal. Unfortunately we are not going to be able to maintain the same schedule because of the fact that it’s such a long drive and then the passengers at the present time who have reservations are remote to us and we can’t get in touch with some of them because their out in the villages where there is no telephone or cellular phone reception and so what we’re trying to do is look at all the reservations we’ve had so far and we’ve decided that our 8:30 am of out the Belize Municipal with a return flight back to Belize City at 9:40 am from Rio Dorado is the most convenient and at the present time that’s the only flight that we’re using. But should there arrive any need for us to do additional flights, we will certainly look at it.”

In speaking with a representative from Maya Island Air this afternoon they confirmed that they are flying into Punta Gorda using the same airstrip, Rio Dorado. Maya Island air said that they will have two flights to that municipality tomorrow, the first leaving at 8 am in the morning and the second leaving at 2:30 pm in the afternoon.  Love News also spoke to Joseph Carr, Manager of the Belize Airport Authority and he confirmed to us that the repair on the runway is expected to be completed by Monday January 14^th weather permitting.

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