Bermuda’s Air Transport Licensing Panel has refused an application from BermudAir (2T, Bermuda) to obtain an Air Transport Licence, ch-aviation research has revealed. However, the transport minister granted the carrier a new exemption from the licence, allowing it to continue its services.

While the reasons behind the March 21 decision to reject BermudAir’s application were not disclosed, the local newspaper The Royal Gazette revealed that the airline had operated without the licence since its inception last year and that the process had been delayed due to a lack of qualified officials to form an independent panel of adjudicators required to rule on the application.

A spokeswoman told the daily that “when BermudAir expressed its intention to apply for an Air Transport Licence in 2023, it was unfortunately not possible to convene a panel [...]. This was because one of the positions essential to the panel’s composition - the director of tourism - was no longer in existence.” She added that the Civil Aviation Act did not include any provisions allowing this role to be filled by another individual or office, “presenting a procedural challenge.”

For this reason, BermudAir has been given four exemptions so far allowing it to continue flying.

The latest exemption is valid until December 31, 2026, and allows BermudAir to operate scheduled services to 47 airports in North America and the Caribbean, of which the carrier currently serves ten from Bermuda, according to the ch-aviation schedules module: Baltimore International, Boston, Charleston International, Fort Lauderdale International, Halifax, Hartford Bradley, Orlando International, Raleigh/Durham, Toronto Pearson, and White Plains.

The spokeswoman for the airline urged the Bermudian government to amend the Civil Aviation Act of 2007 “to support the operational realities of a commercial passenger airline,” Bermuda's The Royal Gazette reported.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows BermudAir operates two E175s.

ch-aviation has reached out to BermudAir for comment.