New Baggage Restriction - Cayman Airways Express

Now that Cayman Airways & politics has forced Island Air out of
business, they're turning the screws to their customers...


Therefore, before you book, better check out Cayman Airway's baggage
policy for your flight.

The 737 to the Brac doesn't appear to be affected, but reportedly, all
of their Twin Otter flights to Little Cayman & Cayman Brac now have a
55lb checked baggage weight limit.


Note that's not 55lbs PER bag, but a total of ALL checked bags.


Island Air has lost their website...will have to dig up their phone# to
see how if (& how much) they're flying. I think I heard that they're
down to one smallish plane.



-hh

H Huntzinger <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com>
pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:
:Now that Cayman Airways & politics has forced Island Air out of
:business, they're turning the screws to their customers...
:
:Therefore, before you book, better check out Cayman Airway's baggage
olicy for your flight.
:
:The 737 to the Brac doesn't appear to be affected, but reportedly, all
:of their Twin Otter flights to Little Cayman & Cayman Brac now have a
:55lb checked baggage weight limit.
:
:Note that's not 55lbs PER bag, but a total of ALL checked bags.

That's exactly what it was when I flew Island Air in February 2000.
So it either never changed or it's changed back to what it used to be.

Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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Dan Bracuk <NOTbracuk@pathcom.com> wrote:

> H Huntzinger <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com>
> pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:

> :Note that's not 55lbs PER bag, but a total of ALL checked bags.
>
> That's exactly what it was when I flew Island Air in February 2000.
> So it either never changed or it's changed back to what it used to be.


Its the same bag quota, but different airlines, Dan.


Long story short...

Island Air used to enjoy a verbal exemption from having to pay landing
fees, apparently in compensation for them flying the mail to the Sister
Islands as well as other Government Services (Doctors, Dentists, Vets,
etc).

Cayman Airways - - aka "the Government Subsidized Airline" - - applied
political pressure because they wanted to expand service without
competition. Island Air was promptly hit with a bill for roughly a
decade's worth of landing fees, and all of the typical BS that follows
with such politically-motivated 'dirty tricks'.


While Cayman Airways was trying to kill off Island Air, they didn't have
a special (eg. 55lb) baggage weight restriction. Happy days for us
divers

Apparently, they're now pretty confident that they've been successful in
killed off Island Air as a competitor, so they've now adopted a 55lb
baggage restriction for the Twin Otter flights to LC/Brac.

Yup, absolutely amazing how its identical to Island Air's policy.


FWIW, there's a lot of "dirty politics" under the clear Cayman waters.

For example, they're trying to build a new airport on Little Cayman...it
turns out that the current one isn't owned by the Government, so they
don't have control over it...and thus, can't charge landing fees. So
their solution is to build a new one. The selected location is to the
North & East, reportedly right on top of the endangered Booby nesting
grounds...wonder if the shit will hit the fan when the Royals find out
about that one


-hh

"H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote in
message news:{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-

> Apparently, they're now pretty confident that they've been successful in
> killed off Island Air as a competitor

According to a mail I received from res@IslandAir.ky this morning at 9:31
AM MT:

"We are operating schedule service as normal.
Four times daily out of Grand Cayman at 745am, 945am, 235pm & 435pm
Return times are 855am, 1030am, 320pm & 545pm
Round trip airfare is USD110.25 per person including tax."

and

"Baggage allowance is 55 lbs per person
Excess baggage is 50 cents per lb"


I'm suspicious of this "political pressure" to bill Island Air for a decade
of landing fees, from a government that doesn't control the airfield. Do you
have complete confidence in your source Hugh?

And I don't see why CA had to run IA out of business before lowering baggage
allowances. This is the allowance IA was at anyway, so I don't understand
why CA couldn't have been at that limit prior to the effort to kill off
Island Air

"Daniel Arrepas" <arrepas.daniel@butler-rosebury.com> wrote:


> According to a mail I received from res@IslandAir.ky this morning at 9:31
> AM MT:
>
> "We are operating schedule service as normal.
> Four times daily out of Grand Cayman at 745am, 945am, 235pm & 435pm
> Return times are 855am, 1030am, 320pm & 545pm
> Round trip airfare is USD110.25 per person including tax."


IMO, that's great news!


and the "islandair.ky" email address redirects to:

http://islandair.no-ip.com:8080/


....so they do have a website back up.

Most Excellent.



> I'm suspicious of this "political pressure" to bill Island Air for a decade
> of landing fees, from a government that doesn't control the airfield. Do you
> have complete confidence in your source Hugh?

First, a minor point of clarification: the landing fees bit was for
take-off and landings on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac...the nuance that
LYC isn't a government airport is simply yet another wrinkle with the
ongoing local politics.


Next, here's some URL's that should help with background:

www.gotocayman.com/gcmn2004.htm
http://www.caymannetnews.com/2004/08...slandair.shtml
www.caymannetnews.com/ 2004/08/727/islandair-comment.shtml



Very rare is it to get in connect-the-dots fashion all the political
shennanigans that have been taking place, be they Cayman or Chicago.

Nevertheless, there's been plenty of smoke to suggest that there's a
fire.

For example, there was the (reportedly probably illegal) granting of
Status to a couple of thousand Ex-Pats by the current Administration,
which apparently was an attempt to give voting rights to people more
likely to vote to keep the current Administration in office.

There's also the "Garbage Truck" controversy, where a huge contract was
awarded after IVAN for clean-up that went to a newly established
offshore company instead of to the local Caymanian companies. I don't
recall the specifics on who the company belonged to, but IIRC, it was a
political contributor type.

The CAL vs IA is simply YA example.

Then there's the monstrosity of "Atlantis" that is despoiling Cayman
Brac waters...while, unfortunately, the reef at Kissamee inside the
Marine Park is being literally destroyed by gravel shipments going to
Grand Cayman. They'll probably "move the park" because they want to
build a cruise ship dock on the Brac. If this happens, the Kissamee
wreck will either be destroyed, or will become undivable. A nice
compliment to their "Shipwreck City" master plan?

All in all, the politics in Cayman are at present quite dirty. The next
thing you know, there will be a murder in the hospital on Grand Cayman
(oops, that did already happen earlier this year).


All of this is a very long way of saying, "YES", I am highly confident
that much of this has been very much politically motivated.


> And I don't see why CA had to run IA out of business before lowering baggage
> allowances. This is the allowance IA was at anyway, so I don't understand
> why CA couldn't have been at that limit prior to the effort to kill off
> Island Air

It is simply good predatory business practices to offer a better deal
than the guy you're trying to drive under.

And since the most common complaint that divers have had over the years
with Island Air was that 55lb weight limit, that's what they picked for
their "product differentiation"...a smart move on their part.


CAL has been getting tripped up over the past ~6 months or so with
baggage issues ... there have been reports of divers at LCBR and such
who had to pack their gear soaking wet on Friday so that CAL could move
some bags on friday night over to GCM, etc, etc, etc.


-hh

"H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote in
message
news:{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-402EEA.07133104052005@news.giganews.com...

> First, a minor point of clarification: the landing fees bit was for
> take-off and landings on Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac...


My mistake. I understood your comment to mean the landing fees at LC in
exchange for mail and such.

H Huntzinger <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com>
pounded away at his keyboard resulting in:

:And since the most common complaint that divers have had over the years
:with Island Air was that 55lb weight limit, that's what they picked for
:their "product differentiation"...a smart move on their part.

Didn't bother me at all. In fact, I am contemplating a trip to Little
Cayman later this year knowing that I can easily make weight.


Dan Bracuk
If we don't succeed, we run the risk of failure.

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"H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote in
message
news:{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-402EEA.07133104052005@news.giganews.com...
> "Daniel Arrepas" <arrepas.daniel@butler-rosebury.com> wrote:
>
Snip

>
> Then there's the monstrosity of "Atlantis" that is despoiling Cayman
> Brac waters...while, unfortunately, the reef at Kissamee inside the
> Marine Park is being literally destroyed by gravel shipments going to
> Grand Cayman. They'll probably "move the park" because they want to
> build a cruise ship dock on the Brac. If this happens, the Kissamee
> wreck will either be destroyed, or will become undivable. A nice
> compliment to their "Shipwreck City" master plan?

Hugh, What's this Atlantis thing? And, unless your where kidding, about
developing a golf course up on the Brac?

Does Divi have the dock completed by now, I would expect?

I know they tried before, but a cruise ship? There's not a whole lot else
to do except dive...which is why we loved it so much. I guess a golf course
up on the brac could rival some views at Pebble Beach; throw in a beach with
water sports, and I guess it could happen.

There was an area a mile north of us I drove my kids by five years ago...a
cow pasture. I pulled over, rolled down the windows, and started mooing at
the cows. After looking at me rather incredulously, they joined in. Then
asked, "What are we doing this for?". I told them I wanted them to remember
mooing at the cows here, and to be able to say they remembered being able to
do it.......for it was soon to start growing houses instead of cows, and
they would never see cows here again. Belemere is now a 1500 + development
today.

I guess I better hurry and get them to the Brac before it is gone, as we
have known it.

George


>
> -hh

"George Price" <gprice3@cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>
> "H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote:
> >
> > Then there's the monstrosity of "Atlantis" that is despoiling Cayman
> > Brac waters...while, unfortunately, the reef at Kissamee inside the
> > Marine Park is being literally destroyed by gravel shipments going to
> > Grand Cayman. They'll probably "move the park" because they want to
> > build a cruise ship dock on the Brac. If this happens, the Kissamee
> > wreck will either be destroyed, or will become undivable. A nice
> > compliment to their "Shipwreck City" master plan?
>
> Hugh, What's this Atlantis thing? And, unless your where kidding, about
> developing a golf course up on the Brac?


"Atlantis" is a bunch of concrete columns, sundial, etc, that is
supposed to mimic the fabled "Lost City". Its an art project by the
tall lanky european guy who goes by the name of "Foots". Fortunately,
he's self-funded it, so its not costing the Caymans much, although if
he's so well off financially, it does beg the question as to why he took
a job at Divi as their head of maintenance.

I had previously been under the understanding that it was going to be
located 200-400yds west of Radar Reef, at an area known as Duppy Reef,
which would have been in the middle of the Brac's officially designated
'approved waterskiing area' (eg, divers keep out). However, I now
understand that its actually "right next to" Radar Reef, in the big
sandy patch on the west side (eg, to the left) of Radar, which sounds
exactly like the place where they ran the new telephone cable out ~5
years ago. Planned water depth's is reportedly around 40fsw.


The 'Golf Course' has been part of an architect's proposed business
development plan for a huge resort complex that would be at the eastern
tip of the island, surrounding the lighthouse. Of course, geologically,
this area is very faulted (hence why that proposal of a few years ago of
building multi-million dollar homes cantilevered over the edge of the
bluff above Spot Bay was such a joke). The golf course would be part of
this complex and yes, this would be a very windy location. In any
event, they would have to reconcile this with the Government's 2003
Development Master Plan which in regards to the Bluff states the
following:

"(iii) It is recognized that the Bluff is a unique feature of Cayman
Brac and an important attraction to visitors. Every effort should
therefore be made to retain the unspoiled visual aspect of the cliff
face of the Bluff. The setback in each case is to be determined by the
Development Control Board and each applicant will be dealt with on its
merits."

(available at: www.planning.gov.ky/development/Docs/padp03.pdf )



FWIW, there's also been some rumors stemming from Grand Cayman of
building a prison on the Brac, which got the Braccers in an uproar. The
big island folk tried to blow it off as a joke (April Fools?), but IMO,
most people aren't convinced that its not a real idea that's being
floated. Grand Cayman's been having real problems with crime,
reportedly from armed Jamacian Drug Gangs. I've heard that there have
been three fatal shootings recently...I only saw the one about the
murder in the hospital that made the press (gang conflict in which one
was wounded, but his opponent later came to the hospital to finish him
off).



> Does Divi have the dock completed by now, I would expect?

The dock is reportedly mostly complete, but not yet fully complete.



> I know they tried before, but a cruise ship? There's not a whole lot else
> to do except dive...which is why we loved it so much.

Grand Cayman's currently surviving off of docking fees. Given how much
of an upturn there's been in the cruise industry since 2001, there's
sufficient demand for another port of call, if for no other reason than
to spread out the cruisers. Of course, the "things to do" on the Brac
are highly limited, but there are those locals who relish the idea of
making the Tibbets Square area into a cruise ship shopping mecca.



> I guess a golf course up on the brac could rival some views at
> Pebble Beach; throw in a beach with water sports...

Think for a moment as to just how you would get from the Lighthouse area
to a swimmable beach, 140ft below your elevation. And even if you did
something expensive, like sink an elevator shaft through the rock, take
extra heed to note that the classical winter travel season coincides
with the onset of "DownEasters", which is where strong winds blow
straight down the length of the island, and there is no lee side...this
is what Cliff calls "blowing down the slot".


> I guess I better hurry and get them to the Brac before it is gone, as we
> have known it.


FWIW, I think the next ~5 years (at least) are safe, because Ivan
walloped Grand Cayman so hard, and there's always been a sort of
trickle-down effect, especially economically.


-hh

"H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote in
message
news:{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005-F95BA7.08163413052005@news.giganews.com...
> "George Price" <gprice3@cfl.rr.com> wrote:
>>
>> "H Huntzinger" <{NOSPAM-rm_to_reply}rec-scuba2005@huntzinger.com> wrote:
>> >
>> > Then there's the monstrosity of "Atlantis" that is despoiling Cayman
>> > Brac waters...while, unfortunately, the reef at Kissamee inside the
>> > Marine Park is being literally destroyed by gravel shipments going to
>> > Grand Cayman. They'll probably "move the park" because they want to
>> > build a cruise ship dock on the Brac. If this happens, the Kissamee
>> > wreck will either be destroyed, or will become undivable. A nice
>> > compliment to their "Shipwreck City" master plan?
>>
>> Hugh, What's this Atlantis thing? And, unless your where kidding, about
>> developing a golf course up on the Brac?
>
>
> "Atlantis" is a bunch of concrete columns, sundial, etc, that is
> supposed to mimic the fabled "Lost City". Its an art project by the
> tall lanky european guy who goes by the name of "Foots". Fortunately,
> he's self-funded it, so its not costing the Caymans much, although if
> he's so well off financially, it does beg the question as to why he took
> a job at Divi as their head of maintenance.
>

One close hurricane would turn it into a jumble of stuff, a la artificial
reef.


> I had previously been under the understanding that it was going to be
> located 200-400yds west of Radar Reef, at an area known as Duppy Reef,
> which would have been in the middle of the Brac's officially designated
> 'approved waterskiing area' (eg, divers keep out). However, I now
> understand that its actually "right next to" Radar Reef, in the big
> sandy patch on the west side (eg, to the left) of Radar, which sounds
> exactly like the place where they ran the new telephone cable out ~5
> years ago. Planned water depth's is reportedly around 40fsw.
>
>

Are they still doing night dives on Radar?


> The 'Golf Course' has been part of an architect's proposed business
> development plan for a huge resort complex that would be at the eastern
> tip of the island, surrounding the lighthouse. Of course, geologically,
> this area is very faulted (hence why that proposal of a few years ago of
> building multi-million dollar homes cantilevered over the edge of the
> bluff above Spot Bay was such a joke). The golf course would be part of
> this complex and yes, this would be a very windy location. In any
> event, they would have to reconcile this with the Government's 2003
> Development Master Plan which in regards to the Bluff states the
> following:
>
> "(iii) It is recognized that the Bluff is a unique feature of Cayman
> Brac and an important attraction to visitors. Every effort should
> therefore be made to retain the unspoiled visual aspect of the cliff
> face of the Bluff. The setback in each case is to be determined by the
> Development Control Board and each applicant will be dealt with on its
> merits."
>
> (available at: www.planning.gov.ky/development/Docs/padp03.pdf )
>
>
I guess what they don't understand is that they would have some major agae
blooms from the fertilizer run off, unless they processed the local version
in the way of cow dung and bat guano, but, still, a golf course? Even
then, to add the kind of acreage to be fertilized would still cause problems

>
> FWIW, there's also been some rumors stemming from Grand Cayman of
> building a prison on the Brac, which got the Braccers in an uproar. The
> big island folk tried to blow it off as a joke (April Fools?), but IMO,
> most people aren't convinced that its not a real idea that's being
> floated. Grand Cayman's been having real problems with crime,
> reportedly from armed Jamacian Drug Gangs. I've heard that there have
> been three fatal shootings recently...I only saw the one about the
> murder in the hospital that made the press (gang conflict in which one
> was wounded, but his opponent later came to the hospital to finish him
> off).
>
>

Wouldn't that be wonderful? There were a couple of crusty Brac immigration
officers that looked like they would relish the job, instead of busting
condo users for bringing in to much alcohol. It would be a hell of a way of
adding jobs to the Brac, which would seem to be the only rationale. Just
what we need is people in chains with armed guards on the way over from GC.

Sounds like the usually strict Cayman laws are getting a test. If they
begin to lose, it will hit their tourist industry as hard as Ivan.

>
>> Does Divi have the dock completed by now, I would expect?
>
> The dock is reportedly mostly complete, but not yet fully complete.
>
>
>
>> I know they tried before, but a cruise ship? There's not a whole lot
>> else
>> to do except dive...which is why we loved it so much.
>
> Grand Cayman's currently surviving off of docking fees. Given how much
> of an upturn there's been in the cruise industry since 2001, there's
> sufficient demand for another port of call, if for no other reason than
> to spread out the cruisers. Of course, the "things to do" on the Brac
> are highly limited, but there are those locals who relish the idea of
> making the Tibbets Square area into a cruise ship shopping mecca.
>
>
That's all Costa Maya is, south of Cozumel; a cruise ship dock with a strip
mall when you get off.

>
>> I guess a golf course up on the brac could rival some views at
>> Pebble Beach; throw in a beach with water sports...
>
> Think for a moment as to just how you would get from the Lighthouse area
> to a swimmable beach, 140ft below your elevation. And even if you did
> something expensive, like sink an elevator shaft through the rock, take
> extra heed to note that the classical winter travel season coincides
> with the onset of "DownEasters", which is where strong winds blow
> straight down the length of the island, and there is no lee side...this
> is what Cliff calls "blowing down the slot".
>
>
>> I guess I better hurry and get them to the Brac before it is gone, as we
>> have known it.
>
>
> FWIW, I think the next ~5 years (at least) are safe, because Ivan
> walloped Grand Cayman so hard, and there's always been a sort of
> trickle-down effect, especially economically.
>
>
We had a promo with round trip from Orlando for 219 recently....back to what
we were used to. I checked earlier this year and it was 350 pp.....plus we
have to drive to Tampa. Looked at Turks and Caicos, and it was worse.
Seven-hundred Ten Dollars from Orlando: I don't think so. All flights
either went to Charlotte (US Air) to connect or Grand Bahama to connect.
When we can get round trip to London for that, it was way over priced.

The Cayman airfare looked promising, but I had already booked a week at
Banana Bay in Marathon with a couple of days of diving with Capt. Morgan, as
we did last year. I tried to contact Cobalt Coast as to their damage, but
they never returned the email.

George




> -hh