Direct Flight From Belize to Honduras Via Tropic Air
There are over fifty thousand people in Belize with ties to Honduras, according to Anthony Mahler, the Minister of Tourism. So, Honduras is a natural market for the airline industry. That is one of the main reasons why Tropic Air now has a non-stop flight from Belize to Honduras. The direct flight also opens a new door for overnight tourism in Belize and Honduras. With two flights per week in the initial phase, and more trips to be added, there will be no shortage of space for you to book your next direct flight to Honduras. News Five’s Paul Lopez travelled with Tropic Air today on its inaugural flight to Honduras. Here is that report.
Paul Lopez, Reporting
Tropic Air now has non-stop flights from the Phillip Goldson International Airport to the Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The inaugural flight left the PGIA at seven a.m., following a brief ceremony inside the airport.
Steven Schulte
Steven Schulte, C.E.O., Tropic Air
“Tropic Air was founded to bring tourists to San Pedro. Together with our partner hotels and the Belize Tourism, we have had great success in growing tourism in all of Belize. The airline industry is the door through which tourists arrive. Today we are opening another door to San Pedro Sula, to continue that growth.”
Anthony Mahler
Anthony Mahler, Minister of Tourism
“Like Mr. Shulte said, airlift into a country for the overnight sector is the life blood. We have put an inordinate amount of effort into building airlift into Belize, going to routes, going to the airline’s headquarters, to meet them, talk to them, to pitch Belize, to provide incentives, and we promised two years ago that we would for everything possible to continue to build airlift. With the partnership with Tropic Air, we have done so again. I understand this is their fourth international flight, so I would like everybody to give them a round of applause, because it is important.”
After the ceremony, it was time to board Tropic Air’s Beach Craft 1900. The maiden departure was at capacity. Travelers whose final destination was Honduras, as well as B.T.B. representatives, and members of the media made the flight. The journey to San Pedro Sula was without any hiccups. The seating arrangement provided sufficient leg room and comfort. Every passenger, except for those seated at the furthest end of the aircraft, was able to enjoy a window seat. Within forty minutes, the aircraft touched down on the tarmac at the Ramon Villeda Morales International Airport.
Kevin Rodriquez
Kevin Rodriquez, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce and Industries of Cortes
“Greeting to the people of Belize, we are really glad as a chamber of commerce that now we are opening a new route that is going to put us closer together. We are going to be able to travel. I am thinking about myself to be able to go and visit for the first time and hopefully we are going to have a lot of people from Belize coming to Honduras as well. For us it is very important because this airport, Ramon Villeda Morales is the most important one for the country. So, just for the people of Belize can know, Cortes represents about seventy percent of the GDP of Honduras. We have about eighty percent of commerce export and import coming through this area in Honduras, the northern part. Next to the airport we have, I forget the name in English. But this is a good thing, a good sign, great news for both countries that now we are going to have a new airline, a new route that will give us the option to travel.”
Tropic Air’s new non-stop flight from Belize to Honduras was celebrated with a champagne toast inside the departure launch in Honduras. Initially, two flights will depart from the PGIA on a weekly basis. Tropic Air’s CEO, Steve Schulte says the current flights are timed to connect with early flights in San Pedro Sula.
Steven Schulte
“I think this is in the very early stages of regional development and it will take us two years before we see any return on this flight. But, we have to start sometime. I think, with the market in Belize full and expanding we don’t want to miss the opportunity to expand it further. It is an inconvenient time for the airport, but Honduras has always been friendly, it has always been a friend of Tropic Air. We have had many invitations to fly on Honduras by government officials throughout the years. I remember, I can’t recall the name of the minister right now, but he came to a meeting here and said, Tropic Air, you can fly to Honduras anytime you want to, don’t need paper work nothing.”
Reporting for News Five, I am Paul Lopez
