Okay, maybe I'm being naive, but has anyone on the island approached the local government about starting a government run airlines (Bon Air)? All it would take would be two or three second hand turbo props purchased from Air Jamaica and they would have one destination: Flamingo Airport to Fort Lauderdale (or similar). The could run a round trip two or three times a week, and cash in on everyone that doesn't like the 7 hour lay over in PR and Miami. I know nothing about the airline industry, but ya gotta think this limited run would be a money maker for the island.

Anyone with a better business sense than I have see major faults with such a proposal?

think about it...have you ever seen anything owned and operated by a government be better and/or more effecient than private industry? If it were a great business deal, somebody would be doing it.

politicians cannot manage themselves; hate to see them try to manage a business....talk about the proverbial $800 hammer and $500 toilet seat

A number of small airlines have tried. Not workable. ALM/DCA was the NA airline-- no go either. It gradually sank under the weights that Gregg mentions plus the European-style labor laws.

And, as the Bonaire Balance articles (http://www.bonairereporter.com/) point out, without large numbers of customers, not just we BTers, no airline will be viable. And that is an island government tourist board/properties subject.

Didn't Air Jamaica shoot craps once the government took it over?

okay okay... I'll concede the point. So um... how long does it take to kayak to bonaire from key west??

how fast can you paddle? couldn't resist

Would that be in an African kayak, or European?

Jake

***screaming "aaaaahhhhhhhhh..." as he's flung from a cliff** (okay... if you don't know monty python, you won't have gotten it, but just smile and nod and understand that yes, there really are disturbed people here. )

hooray for disturbed people!!!