LIAT makes first down-payment on new fleet

Gonsalves

Shareholder governments of regional airline LIAT have made the first down-payment for six new fifty-seater aircraft, according to Prime Minister of St. Vincent, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

The purchase of the aircraft is part of a fleet expansion program initiated by the airline and speaking at the commissioning of a container handling unit in St. Vincent, Gonsalves said $3.8-million dollars have already been paid.

He said payments will continue in 2013 and 2014.

The prime minister said three, of the six aircraft are expected to be delivered in 2013.

Gonsalves also revealed that the shareholders are now considering whether to purchase 70-seater aircraft as part of the expansion program.

For some time now, the majority shareholders of LIAT have been thinking of expanding the airline’s aging fleet and in July this year, at a meeting in Barbados, they decided which aircraft type will be used.

Despite the decision and Gonsalves’ announcement, the type and manufacturer of the new aircraft have not been disclosed.

The majority shareholders of LIAT are the governments of St. Vincent, Barbados and Antigua.

Recently Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit, announced that the island will be investing in LIAT with an $8-million cash injection.

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25 Comments

  1. Anonymous
    November 29, 2012

    Won’t be surprised if they are in fact the ones CAL could not afford.

  2. islandman
    November 27, 2012

    Gonsalves continues to manipulate Skerro, while he builds his International airport and develop St. Vincent. The Best solution for Dominica when American Eagle pulls out in April 2013 would of being to negotiate a deal with Caribbean Airlines to fly the vacant routes and simultaneously source funds to build a jet stripe to accommodate large commercial flights and airlines, this in turn would create many spin offs for Dominica, such as increase Tourism – both regionally and internationally, attract more foreign investors, and most importantly develop Dominica and improve the standard of living for Dominica citizens. However, because of the lack of foresight by skerro, the citizens of Dominica continues to get the worst deal possible…….

    • Anonymous
      November 28, 2012

      Dominica cannot even satisfy LIAT with 40 seats but build an international airport for airlines with 300 seats yeah that makes total sense.

      Try satisfying LIAT first. Fill 40 seats first at least once a week. Not even once a day nuh. Once a week let Dominica arrivals be enough to fill 40 seats at once. When that happens maybe then its possible in time we can now fill 300 seats.

      The time between filling LIAT once a week and say, Delta, once a month cannot be too far apart because the payments on the airport begin immediately which means that thing called taxes. Now I know most of you dont have a clue what that is being the welfare beggar state that Dominica is but with the international airport all of you soon will and its about bleddy time because maybe then a little more intelligence will enter the national dialogue.

      International airport. Cant even fill 40 seats after 50 years. Allyou is real dingbats.

      • Bluuuuhhh
        November 29, 2012

        Well said.

        Just get a ferry to be there when the international passengers arrive at Gwada airport.

        That is SO easy.

      • Cesare Bonventre
        November 29, 2012

        Dominica needs to draw enough people to fill those seats – Or soon even Liat will withdraw flights to Dominica!

        Begging airlines to come is useless. They have a budget to run.

        The solution would be, for instance, to increase tourism. Yet the Government of Dominica has refused much good help in this regard!

        Example: Many have worked hard in an attempt to bring International Running events to Dominica’s Waitukubuli National Trail – yet the government refuses all efforts to help them out!

        Why does the government refuse to help out or get involved? After all, Trail Running, or Ultra Running is likely the perfect demographic for Dominica tourism! This demographic not only brings in plenty of money; they always want to help the culture by building libraries and schools, etc.!

        Why does the government of Dominica, from the PM down to the DDA, refuse to assist in any way those International Running organizations such as TCC Adventures?

        You want more airlines, then compel the government to participate in promoting tourism – And that doesn’t mean “more of the same” nonsense of lifeless brochures & competing over the same tourist demographic that prefers white sand beaches & buying boat loads of high-dollar designer goods!

      • Anonymous
        November 29, 2012

        Cesare, Government will not assist because there is no money in it for them! That and they just dont have the capability.

        Because you can teef doesn’t mean you can make.

  3. Anonymous
    November 27, 2012

    What about our $8 million? Seriously? hahhaah Ask first how many tens of millions Bdos, SVG and Antigua have spent on LIAT and you asking about our paltry $8 million? Are you people really so mired in the slum culture that you think that is any money?

    Are you people so deep in the red clinic of hand outs and being the beggars that you are that you think those pennnies all of a sudden gives you the same rights as those islands that have invested 10 times 20 times 30 times more than we have? That having given nothing at all, those islands that have painstakingly invested over the past 30 years or so must consider you too because wow! we invested a whole $8 million EC!

    Dominica is already a welfare route. We are starting from a minus position so that $8 million does not even begin to put us in the runnings yet as to having any major say.

    You kids need to enter the real world. When you do, thats when the adults may give you a couple seconds to have a say.

  4. Satelite
    November 27, 2012

    I am more than certain that the type of aircrafts will be ATR’s, the ATR 42-500 which can carry about 50 passengers and the ATR 72-500 which can carry about 70. After all these are planes which would be able to land at Melville Hall with little problems

    • Malatete
      November 28, 2012

      So would the XIAN MA. In any case, in the scheme of things Melville Hall is not a major issue for LIAT (…LIAT can survive without Dominica!).

  5. Shameless
    November 27, 2012

    What is the aircraft type? If is them Chinese prop-jet that still uses analog equipment I man will NOT fly them unless I have absolutely no choice.:twisted: I remain adamant that you all should have started a new airline instead of trying to grow with all that debt still attached. But I guess life is B***h and then you die.

    Assertive, NOT Agressive!

    • joebob
      November 27, 2012

      that’s something my psychology teacher would say lolll

    • Malatete
      November 28, 2012

      Perhaps you are a bit behind the times. The latest version of the Chinese Xian MA600 comes equiped with Rockwell Collins Proline21 avionics suit. Incidentally it uses the same reliable P&W (PW127) engines as the ATR42.500 (J version instead of the E version on the ATR).

  6. 1979
    November 27, 2012

    yawwwwwwwwwwwnnnnn allu good at covering each others cheeks eh pa! hmmmmmm I don’t know who allu think allu fooling, these days the people learn how to read BETWEEN the lines.

  7. Met Yo
    November 27, 2012

    LIAT and the governments of the region for some reason known only to them continue to take us in the Eastern Caribbean for “Pappyshow” It has been confirmed in the reigonal and international media that they are purchasing ATR’s. http://www.newsday.co.tt/businessday/0,169248.html

    why do they continue to disrespect us…Frankly speaking though it is for this contempt and much more why we in the caribbean have no loyalty to LIAT and maybe never will. I for one just waiting for the day when CAL or another airline starts the EC route or for the much anticipated T and T fast ferry service so I can tell LIAT just where to go with thier secrecy…..

    • Malatete
      November 27, 2012

      Thanks Met, I read similar reports but at this juncture it is still speculation and nothing has been confirmed, which is what makes me so suspicious. If they have placed a firm order for the ATR why not say so? We know that aircraft, it has a sound reputation and not only with American Eagle.

  8. rate me
    November 27, 2012

    watch that Gonzalves, all he talking about is planes to go puerto rico, haiti and santo domingo, what about Dominica? after all our 8million that paying for the deposit, imagine since last week Liat dosnt have a flight going to dominica after 4pm, you must overnight in antigua? where our money pass nuh? it getting from bad to worst for us with LIAT

  9. Rene
    November 27, 2012

    What LIAT needs to look at is their ground support and customer service areas. We recently spent six (6) hours waiting in an airport due to a faulty radio. This while they had three other aircraft sitting on the tarmac, unused. They finally switched planes but lost a number of customers forever. As for customer service, checking in for a flight, updates on delays, etc. are a joke. LIAT needs to take lessons from some of the major airlines, train their personnel and treat customers as if they want their business.

  10. RID OF RATS
    November 27, 2012

    is that the skerrit portion of the 8million?

  11. Channel 1
    November 27, 2012

    I would wish they acquire new Dash-8 aircraft instead of switching to a new type of aircraft. I like the Dash-8 aircraft. The Dash-8 is a reliable aircraft and for some of us who are fascinated by planes, the sights and sounds of the Dash-8 are just cool.

    • Psycho
      November 28, 2012

      My boi u mad……… Da da making more noise when u inside the plane…. I live close to a airport in foreign and LIAT making more noise than Jet Blue and those big planes

  12. non-resident
    November 27, 2012

    thats great news..maybe you guys in liat do something with your calling centre..its just impossible to get you and you have to wait on line minimum 30 minutes. right now your client support is complete crap!!!

    • Malatete
      November 27, 2012

      That’s nothing….you ever asked for a cup of coffee on Liat? I’m still waiting for mine….after years, so a 30 minute response time is good by Liat standards.

  13. Malatete
    November 27, 2012

    What is puzzling is that even now the type of plane that is being purchased is shrouded in secrecy. Is it because Liat have decided to go for the Chinese option in the 50-seat category after all? Why can’t they tell us what aircraft we’ll be flying on next year? I understand that for the 70-seater the European ATR would be an obvious choice since they would not even have to go for an outright purchase but could lease the ones that Caribbean bought but are surplus to requirments.Why do our governments continue to treat us like dummies? The arrogance of these fellows is simply breathtaking.

    • Anonymous
      November 27, 2012

      my thoughts exactly!!!

  14. Concerned
    November 27, 2012

    Good Move!!

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