The following note was received from the indomitably Adrain Loveridge.

Let’s look at two persons travelling to St. Lucia from Barbados on 12^th June and return on 21^st.

Forget the fare for a minute!

Let’s just look at the taxes!

TWO PERSONS in US$

BGI-SLU

$11.55 Sales Tax (VAT)

$10.00 Passenger Facility Charge

$55.00 Airport Development Tax

$ 5.00 Airport Authority Tax

$0.74 Airport Passenger Tax

$20.50 Fuel and Insurance Surcharge

TOTAL US$102.79 (2 persons)

SLU-BGI

$11.55 Sales Tax

$ 3.00 Passenger Facility Charge

$ 9.64 Airport Passenger Tax

$20.50 Fuel and Insurance Surcharge

TOTAL US$44.49 (2 Persons)

So! of the total of US$301.48 for the two persons (ONE FREE!) US$147.48 are taxes, fees and surcharges!

The fuel surcharges especial intrigue me!

Barbados to St. Lucia is 121 miles, so 242 miles return.

What is the actual cost of the aviation fuel for this distance in a Dash 8?

Perhaps we should ask who is destroying regional travel?

Adrian Loveridge

23 May 2007