As part of a programme to boost the economy of Belize, the Central American country's recently elected government is seeking a European carrier to help set up a national airline.
Belize does not have a home-grown international operator, and the only major carriers serving the country include American Airlines, Continental Airlines and TACA. As part of a long term economic development programme, the government is attempting to boost international connections to provide growth in tourism.
The country has around 340,000 foreign visitors a year, of which 50,000 are from Europe. The government wants to boost this figure to more than 200,000.
According to Alexander Piletsky, the Belize ambassador-designate in Vienna, Austria, the aim is to establish direct European services, as well as partners and investors, for a national carrier.
He says that major carriers such as Austrian, Lufthansa and Swissair are among those being targeted.
Source: Flight International
