LIAT celebrates 58 years

liatST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Oct. 16, 2014 – LIAT – The Caribbean Airline is today celebrating 58 years of service to the Caribbean.

In a message to mark the occasion, Chief Executive Officer David Evans said the airline continues work through many challenges and he thanked customers for their continued support.

“Getting to this point has not been easy. We continue to operate in an environment which presents us with many challenges, as we all witnessed this week with the passage of Tropical Storm Gonzalo. The storm disrupted our operations and inconvenienced many of our customers,” Evans said.

“Before going any further, I would like to thank all our employees, customers and stakeholders for their patience and support as we work together in the recovery efforts.”

The LIAT CEO underscored the importance of the airline’s focus on safety: “In spite of the continued challenges we can once again look back at our proud achievements. Our safety record and continued commitment to this region are just two of the many things we can be proud of.”

Evans noted that this 58th year is very significant as it will see LIAT completing the transition from its Dash-8 fleet to a new ATR fleet.

LIAT was founded in Montserrat in October 1956 by Saint Kitts-born Mr. Frank Delisle. The airline has grown over the years and is now the main mode of transportation for people travelling between the islands, serving 18 destinations. LIAT operates more than 600 flights per week from Santo Domingo in the north to Guyana in the south – providing the most extensive inter-island network of any carrier in the region. Last year LIAT transported over 800,000 passengers.

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31 Comments

  1. gooooobois
    October 19, 2014

    The way Dominicans travel is like they have no regars for their lives Cardinal killed a few have we forgotten yet the man driving his taxi and soon will be flying for hummingbird like no life was lost ! 58 years is a lot to celebrate with great pilots like Simon Butler David Amor Len Royer , Garth Thomas David Johnson all great man who fly for Liat with high expirence levels . So boys hold the broomstick hard and let Liat give us another 58 strong more years!

  2. gooooo
    October 18, 2014

    Of the 800,000 how many was girlfriends and friends……………What a waste of resources ! Don’t wonder the buggy Liat can’t make a profit carries all the drugs for dealers and money back home ! Shame maybe Caribbean Airlines should just acquire it like Liat did to Caribbean Star ! Sell the damn ting to the Trini I am sure you’ll see heads turn and profits made ? After all they are the safest Airline I. The World !

  3. Derick Gonsalves
    October 17, 2014

    Ok am I the only one doing the math here??? If liat flew over 800,000 people last year alone with an average ticket costing no less than 1000 dollars it means liat made approx. 800 million last year close to 1 billion dollars. So let me ask a foolish question here….wey de money gone??? Why do they need bail outs?

  4. on airport awaiting
    October 17, 2014

    Still awaiting flight 4 hours now…..HOPE U DOMINICANS KNOW THE NIGHT LANDING IS INTO ITS FINAL STATE AS BY THE END OF NOVEMBER THERE WILL NO LONGER BE NIGHT LANDING AT MELVILLE HALL DUE TO ….

  5. Andrew
    October 17, 2014

    The service hasn’t been brilliant but I’ve always arrived at my destination safe, so thanks for that LIAT.

  6. me
    October 17, 2014

    I tought liat was the worst airline ever until I try flying southwest,,

  7. budman
    October 17, 2014

    i am celebrating 58 years of service without the loss of life. now that is a safety record.

    • Malatete
      October 17, 2014

      Correction. On 4 August 1986 LIAT flight 319 crashed into the sea en route between St. Lucia and St. Vincent. All 11 passengers plus 2 crew perished.

  8. sxm / da
    October 17, 2014

    58 years of governments cash injections .( congratulations)

  9. Thinking
    October 16, 2014

    But just think, how many other airlines stayed around for 58 years in the Eastern Caribbean uninterrupted? Granted they have not provided the best service but they have accomplished what EC Express, Carib Express(BA), Caribbean Star (we know how that was staying afloat) and all the others like Nature Island Express, Cardinal Airlines, Winair, etc etc… I think we must observe how difficult it is to operate an airline in this part of the Caribbean and to run one at a profit would probably mean having one flight a day into Melville Hall and having a very inconvenient schedule… I mean even American Eagle pulled out and its replacement is getting expensive. So I think we can give jack his jacket even though it has holes.

    • The Facts
      October 18, 2014

      There is a reason for that. Consider BWIA. It appears that Dominicans and other islanders only knew LIAT, as a popular airline to fly with.
      When Caribbean Airline commenced flying, how many D/cans traveled with Caribbean Airline? I think LIAT put them out of business. I wonder if C.A. had any contacts overseas as in Toronto of all and the US.?
      I know an A/guan who owns a travel agency in Toronto. Obviously, LIAT will receive the majority of passengers from here, no exception Dominicans.
      I have traveled with Caribbean Airlines from D/ca to A/gua. The service I received on this airline far surpassed that of LIAT. In fact, you get nothing, not a glass of orange juice from LIAT, unless this has changed.. I complemented Caribbean Airlines on the service.
      LIAT got most of the business even though it was always late and sometimes did not have a plane.
      A few years ago I experienced the latter in B/dos. Imagine traveling from Canada and arriving in B/dos, then waiting for LIAT only to be told that they did not have a plane. I was upset to the point I asked to speak to the manager and stated that he better get us out of here tonight.
      Well, finally, a plane arrived but it was not going to D/ca. It took us as far as Guadeloupe. When we were arriving in Guadeloupe, the pilot stated that a plane was waiting for us on the tarmac. We quickly left the LIAT plane and hurried to the waiting one and boarded it. It was a small plane. This was rather unsophisticated.
      We arrived at Canefield airport but our luggage did not arrive. Mine arrived the following afternoon. My family members’ luggage arrived two days later. At least they arrived.
      While in D/ca, someone who also resided in Toronto told me that she was in D/ca for three weeks and her luggage did not arrive.
      This is the type of service some of us got from LIAT. They still love LIAT and feel they do not have a choice but to travel with LIAT to and from D/ca. If Caribbean Airline is operable, I would prefer flying with that airline; not LIAT.

  10. The Facts
    October 16, 2014

    LIAT has something to celebrate, its 58th year in business. The founder of LIAT must be a rich man or his estate must be a rich one. During this time, passengers experienced much anxiety and stress with late flights, no-show flights, cancelled flights which have inconvenienced passengers. It has been a travel misery for passengers. Few passengers who have had this misfortune will congratulate LIAT.
    LIAT, now that you are heading for your 59th and also 60th year, any chances of improving your service permanently?

  11. TBT
    October 16, 2014

    58yrs of crap!!!!!! :twisted: I just doe like liat ask ASA ayyyyyyy

  12. Real Dominican
    October 16, 2014

    Liat, the Commonwealth of Dominica is in need of a more efficient services from you. Our Tourism businesses are suffering. Clients are coming on vacation and get their luggage late, or not at all, due to delays and cancellations, trips to Dominica are hampered. Our festive times when we need more flights are placed on the back burner. Liat we need direct flights from and to Dominica to and from Puerto Rico, daily, your flight scheduling is all messed up to satisfy SVG, BGI and Antigua. Dominica deserves BETTER.

  13. Me, Myself and I
    October 16, 2014

    I wonder if we were to add up all the days LIAT got all their flights to destination on time and converted those days to months and then those months to years if we would get to 5 years.

    I had a non stop flight to St. Lucia from Dominica once and ended up spending the night in Antigua. my party in St.Lucia knew that my flight was cancelled at 7pm. At 9 pm LIAT was still asking us at VC Bird international to be patient and we would be boarding shortly…..Celebrating 58 years my foot!

  14. The UK Contingent
    October 16, 2014

    Oh dear. Not sure “celebrates” is the correct word to use here!!

  15. Malgraysa
    October 16, 2014

    And after 58 years the best you could find is David Evans? Be honest Liat, that man is past his sell-by date.

  16. hello
    October 16, 2014

    All those negative comments…..BUT LIAT is No. 1 on safety.
    We can criticise, yes,…but everything cannot be so negative.
    Congrats LIAT.

  17. Anonymous
    October 16, 2014

    There is nothing to celebrate. You may OBSERVE your 58 years in business.

    I had two relatives who flew to Dominica earlier this week and due to the storm in Antigua, it was utter chaos.

    Granted operating under these conditions are very difficult, but they way they handled the situation, it was like they had never seen a storm before. The LIAT personnel at the airport did not have the information to pass on to passengers. People were at the airport in Barbados and they did not know when the planes were going to depart.

    LIAT has a long way to go before they can CELEBRATE anything.

  18. Madame Riss
    October 16, 2014

    I am not sure that the word “celebrates” should have been used in the headline.

    The word LIAT is synonymous with disappointment.

    Despite the millions pumped into the company by governments, LIAT remains an abysmal failure.

    No need for celebrations as there is nothing to justify it.

  19. budman
    October 16, 2014

    i will celebrate with them 58 years and dey never lose a life.

  20. wounded lion
    October 16, 2014

    wow wow horay way to go LIAT 58 years of nonstop unprofessional service to the Caribbean people

    • As if....
      October 17, 2014

      :lol: Agree

  21. dreamer
    October 16, 2014

    I am not sure they will reach the 60th one !

  22. justice
    October 16, 2014

    58 years of what? ONLY the fact that they surviving because we don’t have much choice in the Caribbean. 58 years of rude staff, crappy service, and lost luggage! STUPS

  23. Outside Looking In
    October 16, 2014

    LIAT…….what do you have to show for that 58 years?

  24. October 16, 2014

    fifty years of mediocre service?, fifty years of bad management. even a paro can celebrate his/her birthday. LIAT had fifty years to show that they can do better. what they can really celebrate is 58 yrs. of using our Govts.

  25. Anonymous
    October 16, 2014

    You all should be a shame to celebrated. out of this many years, count how many years of bad service you all offer the Caribbean Region.

  26. not known
    October 16, 2014

    why cant they add more flights since its our dominica creole festival….what happen to the 6 oclock flight,,,didnt they see that was when the flights should be increased…smh..

  27. Tj
    October 16, 2014

    Is on time service part of the celebration. Congratulations!

  28. grell
    October 16, 2014

    Celebrate what the crappy and unprofessional workers,please give me some better news.CAN NEVER FLY THIS WASTE OF TIME AIRLINE.

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