Tag Archives: Caribbean Air Travel

LIALPA Awaits LIAT Action on ECCAA Report and LIAT Investigation.

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Press Release submitted by Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association
LIALPA

LIALPA

St. Johns, Antigua – March 18, 2014 – THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION awaits the recommendations of an investigation commissioned by LIAT’s board of management to investigate the breach of The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation (ECCAA) regulations on November 2nd
2013 by its executive management.

LIAT and senior union officials are already in possession of an Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) report  St. Johns, Antigua – March 18, 2014 – THE LEEWARD ISLANDS AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION
awaits the recommendations of an investigation commissioned by LIAT’s board of management to investigate the breach of The Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation (ECCAA) regulations on November 2nd 2013 by its executive management. LIAT and senior union officials are already in possession of an Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) report which vindicated the stance taken by the pilots union and ruled that as a direct result of the company’s actions, LIAT had in fact committed in three (3) regulatory breaches of safety regulations. Resulting in a possible fine of up to EC $150,000. LIAT offered no defence in regard to the three (3) offenses and having accepted liability has already paid the fines associated with the incident. Reportedly the ECCAA is still investigating the “possibility of tampering with documents” surrounding the same incident which MAY result in additional fines being levied.

This incident represents the first time in its history that the airline has been fined by the authority for breaches of safety regulations.

which vindicated the stance taken by the pilots union and ruled that as a direct
result of the company’s actions, LIAT had in fact committed in three (3) regulatory breaches of safety regulations. Resulting in a possible fine of up to EC $150,000. LIAT offered no defence in regard to the three (3) offenses and having accepted liability has already paid the fines associated with the incident.
Reportedly the ECCAA is still investigating the “possibility of tampering with documents” surrounding the same incident which MAY result in additional fines being levied.

This incident represents the first time in its history that the airline has been fined by the authority for breaches of safety regulations.

Read full text: Press Release – Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association

LIAT Threatens to Shrink Caribbean Airline Network

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The board of LIAT airline is clearly feeling the pressure of mounting ongoing criticism of its consistent inability to achieve a stable business model and to provide a vital intra regional air service in the Eastern Caribbean on a reliable basis.

Unfortunately, the announcements of 6th March from the LIAT chairman, Jean Holder, strongly suggest a strategy still devoid of any coherent business sense. Take on huge investment in multiple new aircraft but then shrink the airline’s network? “Passing strange” and “wondrous pitiful”, to quote Shakespeare. If, instead, this is Dr Holder’s idle threat, designed to panic other regional governments in to investing in an airline with such a tarnished reputation, then that also is a strategy likely to fail.

Investors seek companies with proven management expertise. Yet, in his 100 day strategy announcement last week, Dr Holder stated that the current directors and senior management have invited “some experts” to undertake route analysis of the LIAT network. Outside consultants are needed for a basic management task – even after 57 years of LIAT operations? No wonder there are accusations of amateurism in LIAT management and no wonder years of persuasion by Dr Holder have failed to elicit much new investment in the airline from other governments in the region.

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Redjet: About Time To Say Goodbye

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Submitted by Looking Glass

REDjet CEO Ian Burns

Redjet reminds one of a dying man gasping for breath. The CEO, having claimed to have met with Caricom officials, is claiming fictional success and profitability almost everywhere except St Vincent and attributing success to the Prime Minister. He told the Nation (7/20/2011) that your “intervention paved the way for Redjet to fly to Trinidad and Jamaica.” We supposedly own 51% of the airline and have a minister on the board but so far not a word from the PM or anyone there. Is this a case of fiction following fiction? Now we hear that Redjet is seeking to operate a charter service between Florida and Dominica, and six new low fare routes will include Panama and Antigua in three months time. Does Redjet have license to operate out of the USA or anywhere beside Barbados and Guyana? And through it all the normally very critical opposition remains strangely silent

The Advocate (8/9/2011) reported that Redjet received licences to operate scheduled passenger air services to and fromTrinidad,GuyanaandJamaicaand intermediate and beyond points were granted “in accordance with the agreement between the governments ofBarbadosandTrinidadand beyond their respective territories.” The Trinidad Express (8/6/2011) reported the same thing and that St Lucia’s Civil Aviation Minister told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) “the airline was granted entry into their market a couple of months ago and could begin flying in October……We had meetings in Panama with Redjet with the idea of getting Redjet to operate into Panama both out of St Lucia and Barbados.”

The Pride (Toronto) (10/8/2011) noted that “the licences were granted in keeping an ‘open skies’ agreement between Port of Spainand Bridgetownthat allows for mutual recognition of carriers and automatic permission for air services between and beyond their respective territories.” The “open skies” policy is an ‘agreement’ between certain countries to which none of the islands are signatory. That Trinidad whose airline (CAL) doesn’t serviceBarbados has or will facilitate Redjet makes no sense. The PM stated that competition between Redjet and Liat should be seen as good for business and “part and parcel of the right to freedom of movement as enshrined in the Treaty of Chaguaramas” (Advocate 7/6/2011). The Treaty relates to land sold to theUSA ages ago. It has nothing at all to do withBarbados or the islands. That you were told this falsehood by a certain soul inTrinidad evokes more than suspicion.

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The REDjet Revolution

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BU has been following the progress of new entrant REDjet to the regional air transport market with interest. Not since Carib Express have we seen a new airline generate so much debate. The airline was approved to fly by the Barbados government albeit after a mountain of bureaucratic hurdles had to be leaped. The airline had to confront a suspicious minister of transport in Jack Warner  in its quest to fly to Trinidad. A recent report suggests permission for REDjet to touchdown at Piarco International Airport should be known when the cabinet meets on Thursday.  It was left to the Guyana government to welcome the airline free of controversy.

If we are to judge by the comments emanating from REDjet management the response to the airline has been overwhelming. Why should this be a surprise to anyone when in recent months it has been cheaper often times to fly to Miami or New York than to Antigua or Jamaica.

It is ironic and exposes the hypocrisy in the region that external players are the ones to attempt to make regional travel affordable. We are not ignoring the contribution of local investor in the airline Bizzy Williams. For decades our political leaders and intellectuals, or should we say pseudo-intellectuals, have pontificated about the importance of freedom of movement to the success of the regional integration movement. However they have all failed to deliver a solution which would make regional travel affordable. Barbados, St. Vincent and Antigua are the major shareholders in LIAT which currently has the monopoly on regional transport between the islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Whether because of mismanagement or a flawed business model LIAT has been a generator of debt for its shareholders and venerable Chairman Doctor Jean Holder through the years. The less written about Caribbean Airlines and Air Jamaica the better.

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