Corporate Jetsetters could boost economy - Slayton

Big spending corporate jet-setters could soon be making Bermuda a regular stop and pumping much-needed dollars into the economy, hopes US Consul General Gregory Slayton.

He said a deal to pre-clear private jets going into America could be signed within weeks, meaning passengers can avoid long waits at major US hubs to get red-tape sorted, before flying on to smaller provincial airports.

Last year Bermuda signed a memo of understanding towards an agreement on pre-clearance of private jets.

It could help make Bermuda possibly the first destination outside the United States to sign such a deal.

"I am happy to say there has been a lot of work in the background and great progress is being made," said Mr. Slayton.

"We are fairly close – within a month or two – of being able to sign that agreement.

"That should have a direct benefit for Bermudians in the hospitality industry – everyone from taxi drivers to hoteliers to restaurant owners and their staff.

"We certainly hope that is the case. We would expect the amount of private jet traffic to Bermuda to increase."

Once here such visitors are not likely to be spending just a few dollars like the average cruise ship visitor, believes Mr. Slayton.

"This is the very other end of the spectrum. If you fly a private jet in here you are going to be enjoying everything Bermuda has to offer."

Mr. Slayton hopes the change will also spark an increase in high end leisure tourism as people weigh up the advantages of getting paperwork easily done before their return journey.

"For business people it's a huge advantage. The fact that you can get in an out of Bermuda quickly and easily from New York or any of the major business centre is going to have a good effect.

"I was just talking to a CEO of a local company who was complaining of getting his board members in and out of here because there has been some cutbacks in commercial flights.

"When I mentioned this pre-clearance of private aviation he was overjoyed.

"He thought that might be a nice solution because time is money."

Courtesy of Royal Gazette reporter Matthew Taylor