GM of LIAT Dominica says airline losing money

General Manager of LIAT Dominica, Gerald Cools-Lartigue says the airline is losing a lot of money as its pilots continue industrial action.

An advisory issued by LIAT at 5 a.m. today said all pilots who were scheduled to work this morning have called in sick and all of the company’s morning services have been disrupted. “Obviously if you have planes on the ground and not flying, obviously you are going to lose a lot of money,” he said.

There has been no word yet as to when pilots will get back on the job.

Cools-Lartigue earlier advised that passengers due to leave Dominica at 1: 30 p.m. should call 445-7242 for advice on how they should proceed.

“I really really wish on behalf of LIAT to apologise to all stranded passengers, but these are things that are beyond our control here,” Cools-Lartigue said.

“I really hope some sort of commonsense prevails and that we can at least operate the actual flights,” he added.

It is not known how many passengers have been stranded in Dominica since yesterday.

The sick out came one day after LIAT announced that it had ended the employment services of its Captain Michael Blackburn, Chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA).

LIAT did not state why in a press release it issued on the subject, but has said Blackburn’s behavior was under review.

Blackburn has criticized LIAT’s management particularly when the airline disclosed decisions to cut spending by laying off workers.

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45 Comments

  1. 4progress
    December 8, 2011

    Is it not time for a WIAT….WINWARD ISLAND AIRLINE TRANSPORT

  2. Graduado
    December 7, 2011

    THE GM OF LIAT NEEDS A COURSE IN COMMONSENSE…..HOW CAN YOU MAKE A DECISION LIKE THAT AT A TIME OF YOU BIGGEST INCOME PERIOD,,,,,AND NOT EVEN HAVE MECHANISMS IN PLACE FOR THE POSSIBLE OUTCOMES,,,,THAT EGO TING PLAGUEING US IN ALL ASPECTS,,,,IS IT THAT HE SO COMFY THAT HIS BIG SALARY SURE EVERY MONTH,,,,,HOW CAN LIAT MAKE MONEY IF THE PLANES DO NOT FLY,,,PURE COLONIAL MENTALITY -THAT CANNOT RECOGNISE THE IMPORTANT ROLE OF PILOTS IN THE INCOME -SCHEME,,SUGGESWT FIRE MISTER AND LET cools-lartigue take the job ..he better understand the scenario

  3. sad
    December 7, 2011

    i really wanna go home and others too.. :( ..
    but….. i wonder if they hired that pilot back i wonder if they’ll stop the skits and everyone can go where ever they wanna go. just saying. :-|

    • sad
      December 7, 2011

      um sorry not skits i meant strike

  4. sad
    December 7, 2011

    :(

  5. liatcustomer
    December 7, 2011

    i was suppose to travel today and my flight got cancelled so i really hope that strike ends because im sure everyone wants to go home wat so ever. but in my opinion if they hired that guy back im sure they’ll stop the whole strike thing. :) ….but i hope i get to travel soon.. :(

  6. dno
    December 7, 2011

    oh well. im sure the liat manager ties his best to stop that strike because im stranded in barbados and i really wanna go home and everyone else too. oh well

  7. vanassa
    December 7, 2011

    the pilots a not the problem it the menager and the direction of liat that the problem,they should have a meeting and take of liat in antigua and put it in some other country

  8. paulo
    December 7, 2011

    Nobody wants Liat to die but when one pays for a service you expect to get. What is happening now should not have happened atall because this feud between Liat and the pilot’s association has been on for quite a while and Liat has refused to sit around the table and resolve the issues. They are just mad because Blackburn can standup to them with all the nonsense that the management is doing so they had to get a flimsy reason to fire him. When Liat stopped a pension scheme that they had for the workers the Pilot association had to take them to court so they could reinstate it so Liat’s management is very pigheaded and arrogrant. You cannot fire the chairman of the pilot association a few weeks before Christmas when all your flights are full and expect the pilots to take it easy only a fool who does that. Liat’s management has no business sense just sit down and get a fat salary for doing nothing, as for the board they are waste of time, they make decisions today and tomorrow think of another thing then change. Can a business run this way? We want Liat to buck up after 55year they are no longer a teenager.

  9. Didi
    December 7, 2011

    Liat is a useless airline. No concept of customer service whatsoever. Sadly, typical of the Caribbean condition.

  10. TJ
    December 7, 2011

    Building an airport capable of handling aircraft such as md,s 767, etc.may solve the problem .Think about it, in times like this a charter by LI would help bring standed Dominicans home for the holidays. Most of the other islands with large long runways will not be hurt like DA

  11. Striker
    December 7, 2011

    They losing money when they flying…. they losing money when they not flying…. even after they fire workers. That business model suggests a top heavy organization with too many upper level personnel drawing excessive salaries.

  12. Malatete
    December 7, 2011

    Mr. LIAT manager please explain to us. You already have the passengers’ fare money, prepaid some time ago in most cases. Your planes are standing idle so you have no fuel costs,landing fees or baggage handling costs etc. You are not compensating passengers. So how come you are making a loss? Where does your money go?

  13. pablo
    December 7, 2011

    It has been said that “A DISAPPOINTMENT IS A PLEASURE”. How many disappointments and how much suffering has dominicans and friends of Dominica have to endure before the leaders and dominican alike come to the conclusion that a major change is required. Can DA ever attract investors or businessmen when these incidents keep occurring?
    Where is our imagination.
    DA has 4 options: (1) INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT – If we want people to take seriously. Just thing every year that goes by it is more expensive to build the airport. How about we have a share in the airport and getting the Chinese to build, thereby guaranteeing that it built to budget and on time. I would be proud owner of share in the DOMINICA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. (1) Our own DA Airlines – might meet our need for 3-5 yrs, becoming unprofitable as oil prices are constantly increasing and more islands construct their own international airports. Arrangement need to made to cover Special Event e.g World Creole, Cricket, Carnival. What is it We (d’can) think we can do, that LIAT is not doing. (3) Ferry service which has a wider reach beyond St lucia to the south and Martinique to the north. (4) If all options fail use fishing boats.

  14. for my children
    December 7, 2011

    how long is this going to go on for cause I have to be in Antigua very soon from now. I do support the pilots in their fight, we need more competition!

  15. pissed in canada
    December 7, 2011

    fix the damn problem board….its ur job to make sure ur company runs smoothly and that ur customers r satisfied…get more pilots…legislate a back to work order…pay all monies lost by ur customers who could not connect to other flights on other carriers due to this action…enough is enough already

  16. Very concerned
    December 7, 2011

    IS LIAT A DICTATORSHIP? How do you fire the Union rep and think you can escape with that.

  17. Very concerned
    December 7, 2011

    The Government of St. Vincent stepped in and got a Plane to air lift Vincentians home from Barbados.
    The same aircraft is getting St. Lucians out this afternoon and it moves to Antigua. Bajans and Trinis are getting about on Red Jet and Caribbean Airlines. Where does that leave Dominicans? Cra-na-na, the wretched of the earth (Caribbean).
    Is there a Government in Dominica to take care of its people?
    If a group of American tourists was stranded in Dominica, can you imagine how the local authorities would be scrambling to get them home.
    Two days Dominicans are languishing in Caribbean airports, not a word from Government.
    I AM DOMINICA! ARE YOU?

    • Homeboy
      December 7, 2011

      Well there is ‘night landing’ at Melville Hall’!!!!! That was the cry of people who were narrow- minded enough to think that WASTING $millions to put lights at this archaic strip, was a great move!

      If there was an international strip Dominicans would never be at the Mercy of LIAT. what % of flights coming into DA is operated by LIAT? When action like that is taken the impact can be crippling.

    • Malatete
      December 7, 2011

      The money could be found for a propaganda night flight last year, so why should that be a problem now that “real” passengers are stranded?

  18. back again
    December 7, 2011

    I know liats has its faults, yes they do,but to all those who wants liat to fall, look at this, Liat is the only airline keeping the region connected at a lost,they do it because no other airline will do it,they others drops routes as soon as they stop making money , Your beloved AMERICAN EAGLE cancles flight at a rain drop and no one says a word yet they are still paid by caribbean governments to come to their(our) country, landing fees are waved, yet they are still going to pull out very soon,for the 2 days liat is not coming into DA, the airport is dead, you could not find a taxi at the airport yesterday , DASPA made no money, yet we want liat to die, yes they can do better ,give them fire when the mess up, but give them some slack because they are working under searous strain n they give a lot that the public dont know of, where are all those that promiss the street of gold, they had no idea what it took to keep the caribbean connected, i too have gotten blows from liat, but because i travel the region very often, i know what it takes to get to point A to B then D then back to C then on to A again within a few days….and mos of all SAFTLY

    • pablo
      December 7, 2011

      customer is king. u pay ur money for a service not favours. If LIAT is providing a bad service, it needs improve or die.

    • Striker
      December 7, 2011

      Dont equate American Eagle with the ineptitude that pervades the entire LIAT management. Eagle cancels flights in the interest of passenger safety. LIAT cancels flights because LIAT management cannot run an airline properly and/or profitably. And by the way, American Eagle is precluded from selling any seats that originate in the Eastern Caribbean. This was negotiated to protect LIAT’s monopoly in that region.

    • Anonymous
      December 7, 2011

      Tell me who should be at fault when people are stranded in other countries like TT with nowhere to turn and limited funds to get by? And beloved liat is making it known they aren’t responsible for these people. Should Liat be given an award for continued poor service after 40 years? Liat knows very well it has a monopoly and is using it to their full advantage and not to the benefit of their customers or employees.
      Now tell me if after 40 years a company cannot sustain itself don’t you think that it should close down. (Give room to those who can do it better.)Please do some research because you would note that all the agreements made by the caribbean governments and other airlines are done to maintain Liat’s unfair advantage in the airline market. LIAT NEED TO CLOSE UP AND GET OUT.

  19. Anonymous
    December 7, 2011

    WELL AS I SEE IT

    ITS ABOUT TIME THE PILOTS TAKE A STAND AGAINST LIAT HOW CAN THE PRIME MINISTER OF ST.VINCENT JUST FIRE THE NUNION REPRESENTATIVE WHO STAND TO REPRESENT THE OTHER PIOLTS HE IS THE BIGIST DUMMY IN THE CARRIBEAN HE IS ACTING LIKE THE PM FROM DOMINICA THAT NO ONE NOR CONSTUTION CAN TELL HIM WAT TO DO .
    WAT ABOUT THE OTHER BOARD MEMBERS
    I BET YOU THAT THEY ASK HIM TO THINK ABOUT WAT HE ABOUT TO DO.FIRE A UNION LEADER WITHOUT NOTIFICATION STANDS FOR TROUBLE THE PILOTS SICKOUT THATS ONE STEP THE NEXT STEP IS THE REAL STRICK AND I AM ASKING OTHER UNION MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE PILOTS AGAINST LIAT.
    LIAT HAS TOO MANY MANAGERS GET RID OF SOME OF THEM .

  20. One Love
    December 7, 2011

    8-O LIAT ‘s BOARD should hire a substitute carrier. THE BOARD SHOWS NO CONCERN FOR THE TRAVELLING PUBLIC

  21. One Love
    December 7, 2011

    8-O I’M WITH YOU . GO PILOTS
    if we can charter plane to bring bribed voters WE CAN CHARTER PLANE TO BRING OUR “GENUINE” PEOPLE HOME TOO

    REVOLUTION TO RAS I call on all strended passengers to revolt where ever they are ….. storm LIAT’s offices

  22. One Love
    December 7, 2011

    8-O DAMFOOL decision by the board lack of respect;same as with Chris Gayle

    management playing God : always some idiot trying to play massa NOW LOOK IT DONKEY

    AND HEAR LARTIGUE’S CONCERN ………. LIAT LOSING PLENTY MONEY

  23. like it
    December 7, 2011

    A few years ago i took a vacation to PR. The taxi associate was on strike. All tourist and visitors stranded at SJU

    The Tourism board stepped in quickly with an organized team with buses and shuttles to get all tourist out of the airport and to their hotels.

    What is happening to all our tourists stranded in Barbados and Antigua?

    I think they may cancel their plans to Da and vacation in Antigua or Barbados. They may never visit Dominica again.

    Why? Because we have only one Airline. SHAME. SHAME that our nation has no backup!

    LIAT – Left International Arriving passengers to sleep at Terminals.

    • pablo
      December 7, 2011

      more like

      LIAT – Lack intelligence All Times

    • Patience
      December 7, 2011

      i just can’t understand why the prime minister chose to become a shareholder in an unreliable company like this. It is failing!
      But on the other hand, Gerard Cools-Latigue was the president of the Labor party not long ago, my my my Domnique…

  24. anonymous
    December 7, 2011

    how can you say that???!!!! yes LIAT deserves ityes i know but come on!!! in case you havent notice, people are stranded in certain caribbean islands. and im one of them. and im sure that most of the people reading this are one of us. so yes liat deserves it but we ( the passengers) dont because were loosing our money s fired.because one pilot get fired what does that have to do with the other workers? friend or not. so do you undersatnd now???

  25. Domerican
    December 7, 2011

    Improve all you service, stop losing and damaging peoples luggage and respect customers. Then come back and tell me the results.

    • Malatete
      December 7, 2011

      Come to think of it they could save money by firing the general manager for a start. With the downtown office closed and the limited number of LIAt flights we have anyway, a station manager should suffice.

  26. Go do your homework
    December 7, 2011

    Personally, I am fed up of those pilots and their sick-outs and strikes. They forever want more. They give NO consideration to the travelling public. Those pilots are going to lead LIAT to bankruptcy. When they are out of work and Dominicans are unable to fly to neighboring territories, then we might finally understand the value of LIAT.

  27. My2Sense
    December 7, 2011

    This situation is exactly why we need more competition in the regional airline industry.

  28. mr p
    December 7, 2011

    :-? Liat the passangers are standed do something to get them to thr destinaton get american eagle coastal air etc

  29. new jersey
    December 7, 2011

    omg they have just pilot people get sick so htey should have back up pilots for things like that times like today come up liat

  30. sah sah
    December 7, 2011

    That good for Liat they too wicked as a monopoly start they start to see the signs of their expensive service—–pilots do what all you have to do. dont make people walk on all you.

  31. me
    December 7, 2011

    We r so primitive here in the caribbean. One airline causing so much havoc in our lives. Our govts across the caribbean need to invest in another airline. I look forward to the day when LIAT get some SERIOUS competition.

  32. Interesting
    December 7, 2011

    Mr. Cools-Lartigue it would probably help if you got trained as a pilot yourself so when things like this happens you can step in and probably make the short hull flights? Wouldn’t you agree? And perhaps your assistant manager may want to do the same. Cause you guys make sure that your pay and benefits are totally covered before you pay your staff.

    • Anonymous
      December 7, 2011

      can whitchurch travel please step in with one of thier ferry to antigua.

    • FoolUs
      December 7, 2011

      Bad, manager after all! we need more ferries between the Ilands & time will tell us about liat. lol…

      • One Love
        December 7, 2011

        8-O YA how about a ferry to MIAMI . hope you can swim

    • investigate
      December 7, 2011

      well said, maybe he can do a little more liat management than stifle public officers for thier appointment in the public service commission

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