BermudAir Denied Licence but Wins Exemption to Keep Flying
Bermuda’s Air Transport Licensing Panel has denied BermudAir’s application for an Air Transport Licence, though the airline has been granted a fresh exemption by the transport minister, allowing it to continue operations through December 31, 2026.
The panel’s decision, issued on March 21, did not publicly disclose reasons for the rejection. However, The Royal Gazette reported that BermudAir has operated without a formal licence since launching in 2023. The delay in processing the application was attributed to the government’s inability to form a complete adjudication panel due to the elimination of the director of tourism position—a role mandated by law to serve on the licensing panel.
A government spokeswoman said the Civil Aviation Act of 2007 does not provide alternatives for replacing the director of tourism, creating a procedural deadlock that has led to multiple exemptions being issued for BermudAir. This latest exemption is the fourth and extends the airline’s authority to operate scheduled services to 47 destinations in North America and the Caribbean.
As of now, BermudAir serves 10 destinations from Bermuda, including Baltimore, Boston, Charleston, Fort Lauderdale, Halifax, Hartford, Orlando, Raleigh-Durham, Toronto, and White Plains.
The airline has urged Bermuda’s government to amend the Civil Aviation Act to reflect current aviation industry needs and enable a more streamlined regulatory framework for commercial carriers.
BermudAir continues to operate as Bermuda’s only locally based airline, using the exemption to maintain scheduled passenger services despite the licensing gap.
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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com