First down payment on new LIAT aircraft

The type of aircraft being purchased by LIAT
The type of aircraft being purchased by LIAT

Shareholder governments of regional airline LIAT recently made the first down payment of $3.8 million for the purchase of new planes.

In January LIAT and aircraft manufacturer ATR announced that they had signed an agreement for the purchase of three 48-seat ATR-42-600s.

The deal also includes options for two 68-seat ATR 72-600, and is valued at over US$ 100 million.

The purchase is part of the company’s fleet renewal program.

The first aircraft is expected to be delivered in June.

Last year the Government of Dominica made a decision to invest $8 million into the cash strapped regional airline.

Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, said the coming to Dominica of another carrier, Seaborne Airlines, will complement the island’s investment in LIAT.

“We have over the past few months been quietly negotiating with Seaborne Airlines to get them to agree to come into Dominica. That will certainly compliment our investments in LIAT because LIAT as you know has taken a decision to purchase ATR’s, planes similar size of the American Eagle, and that will also service San Juan,” PM Skerrit noted.

The prime minister has always insisted that  government’s investment in LIAT is a way of safeguarding and protecting the island’s tourism industry.

LIAT’s old fleet is estimated to be over 20 years old and has been deemed to have served the region well.

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9 Comments

  1. look tory
    February 27, 2013

    one gone… another replacing it, lol, not an increase in seat capacity so what’s the deal, next level or next devil :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

  2. Anthony Ismael
    February 27, 2013

    Great news with that deal. No one wants to overnight in Antigua without their luggage.

  3. The Authorities
    February 27, 2013

    The prudent thing for the Dominican Gov’t and Prime Minister to do before investing any money into a business would be to do a study on the problems and solutions of said company.

    Customer support (or the lack thereof) should be the main focus. Every airline has delays, cancellations, lost baggage etc. The manner in which customers are treated when they fall victim to these problems is what separates one airline from the other.

    Here are two of the main problems which I have personally experienced while travelling on LIAT:

    From Management down to baggage handlers, LIAT’s problem solving policy is to blame somebody else, namely the proverbial “they”. They fail to realize that they are the same “they” about whom they speak.

    There are also problems arising from communication issues as a result of non-english speaking people involved with baggage and passengers.

    Fix these problems and we will start flying LIAT not because we have to, but because we like to.

    If The Hon. PM Skerrit does not make LIAT solve these problems, he will be blamed for squandering tax payers money.

  4. Malatete
    February 27, 2013

    Progress in the making although I do wish we get our facts in order.

    The average age of 20 yrs. of the current LIAT Dash-8 fleet is the one quoted by Airfleets.net but only as an approximate, in respect of 2010.
    Following a shareholdrs meeting in Barbados on July 20 of last year the average age was given as 24 yrs.
    However, five monts later, on Dec 18 2012 LIAT’s CEO, Ian Brunton is quoted with an average age of 19 years. (The Nation, Barbados)”.
    What is is really? What we do know is that none of the Dash-8 were acquired new by LIAT.

    The acquisiton of the two ATR-72′ is not part of the purchase deal with ATR. They are leased on a seperate contract from Air Lease Corporation (U.S.A.).

    • Anonymous
      February 27, 2013

      Well I just want to add some points as far as the facts are concerned. Some sites agree with the Liat charman as quoting 19 years. I have never seen any quote over 19 years old. Furthermore, I read on ATR’s website that they have signed an agreement with Liat and those planes are in production. Liat is also leasing some ATR’s which appears to be a normal practice in the airline industry. Also there is data to confirm that Liat did buy some of its aircrafts new.

  5. Wiseup
    February 27, 2013

    #teamliat!!!

  6. " time + $ = ...!
    February 27, 2013

    ——Good advice from the , I.M.F /worlbank

    ——WELL DONN , PRIME MINISTER !!!

    ——10 jears after a bankrupt Dominica !!!—-

  7. Orange County
    February 27, 2013

    Wonder if their Customer Service will ever Improve..It has gone down badly…

    Had a experience just this pass carnival with Liat In Dominica with Baggage and i can’t believe it..

    Think they need to re structure Liat’s Poor Management throughout the islands.

    • grell
      February 27, 2013

      antigua is the culprit of the baggage issue,they keep your luggage overnight and steal you items overnight,thank god for seaborne,we can avoid antigua coming from the us,lets make it happen soon pm stt-dominica direct.antigua is a ripoff.

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