LIAT new aircraft arrives in Antigua; Chairman praises major shareholders

The new aircraft makes its final approach at the VC Bird International Airport
The new aircraft makes its final approach at the VC Bird International Airport

Chairman of LIAT, Dr. Jean Holder, has praised major shareholders, including Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, for investing in the airline.

Speaking on Sunday during the arrival of the airline’s new aircraft at the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua, Holder said the major shareholders had the foresight and courage in to invest the regional carrier.

“They had the courage and the foresight to invest in LIAT, the bridge over the Caribbean Sea, without the services of which, regional integration remains a lofty but unachievable aspiration,” he said.

Major shareholder Prime Ministers of LIAT are Dr. Baldwin Spencer of Antigua and Barbuda, Freundel Stuart of Barbados, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, recently joined by PM Skerrit.

Holder pointed out that reports have already reached him of the “excellent quality of the experience” on board the new aircraft, “…even over sections of some 6 and a half hours duration, portends great news for LIAT customers who have been faithful to LIAT over the long term and who deserve some luxury.”

Holder noted that the arrival marks one in many as the airline seeks to renew its fleet and modernize and improve its network. “This arrival this afternoon, marks the first of seven such arrivals which will take place in 2013 and 2014, revolutionizing the LIAT service to the Caribbean and taking regional air transportation to another, higher level,” he stated.

The aircraft, an ATR, is being leased from the lessor GECAS (GE Capital Aviation Services) based in France.

It is the first of a total of eight ATRs (four 68-seat ATR 72-600 and four 48-seat ATR 42-600s) that will be introduced into LIAT’s fleet.

Earlier this year LIAT announced it had signed deals for the long term lease and purchasing of the ATRs as it continues to modernise.

The new aircraft which arrived on Sunday was ferried from Toulouse in France, to the Canary Islands, to the Cape Verde Islands, to Recife in Brazil, to Georgetown in Guyana, where it flew to St. John’s, Antigua.

Copyright 2012 Dominica News Online, DURAVISION INC. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.

Disclaimer: The comments posted do not necessarily reflect the views of DominicaNewsOnline.com and its parent company or any individual staff member. All comments are posted subject to approval by DominicaNewsOnline.com. We never censor based on political or ideological points of view, but we do try to maintain a sensible balance between free speech and responsible moderating.

We will delete comments that:

  • contain any material which violates or infringes the rights of any person, are defamatory or harassing or are purely ad hominem attacks
  • a reasonable person would consider abusive or profane
  • contain material which violates or encourages others to violate any applicable law
  • promote prejudice or prejudicial hatred of any kind
  • refer to people arrested or charged with a crime as though they had been found guilty
  • contain links to "chain letters", pornographic or obscene movies or graphic images
  • are off-topic and/or excessively long

See our full comment/user policy/agreement.

30 Comments

  1. Carl
    July 27, 2013

    For information, you can now track these new aircrafts (and others) with http://www.flightradar24.com/.

  2. Anonymous
    July 16, 2013

    big mistake

  3. simple
    July 15, 2013

    ppl you know instead of accusing and claming try incourage your kids in school and make liat a better Company keep you all head on your brains are in it before US or the EU got to do it for us like we are crabs :?:

  4. simple
    July 15, 2013

    Island ppl gething new planes and still not happy DA DA i hope Parts don’t go missing when them land in DA lol lol :lol: :-P

  5. smple
    July 15, 2013

    Island ppl gething new planes and still not happy DA DA i hope Parts go missing when them land in DA lol lol :lol: :-P

  6. Top cop
    June 18, 2013

    Hope the flight rates will be reasonable so more people can travel often

  7. Anonymous
    June 18, 2013

    i hope my luggage willbe on the same plane i am now….that it is not left behind

  8. "O" STRESS"
    June 17, 2013

    One should be named “Dominica” that would provide great advertising of our Island as the nature Island of the Caribbean what better way to say thank you to the Dominican people” Mister Holder that’s the next level put your words of praises to action. Dominicans would love you even more.

  9. amethyst
    June 17, 2013

    yes it can land in Melville Hall..same model plane as American Eagle.

  10. dont edit
    June 17, 2013

    Dominica money but i’m pretty sure the shares are in ace boy name. after politics you need a check come in

  11. dont edit
    June 17, 2013

    hope theyre brand new and not american eagles tired fleet…

    • Malgraysa
      June 18, 2013

      Please read carefully. The report says “new” aircraft.

  12. Jay
    June 17, 2013

    It is a bit rich to call Mr. Skerrit a major shareholder in LIAT. A new ATR72-600 has a price tag of U.S.$.22.7 million (E.C.$.84 million) and Dominica’s (…not mr. Skerrit’s) injection of E.C.$.3 million represent less than 4% of the price of one new aircraft. Yes, we have an interest but we should not exagerate, less we look foolish.

  13. Michael
    June 17, 2013

    Correction DNO: LIAT is owned by member countries through their governments not Prime Ministers.

    • John Paul
      June 18, 2013

      Thank You for that correction

  14. Jus Saying
    June 17, 2013

    Hope that this new aircraft will reduce the wait of up to six hours plus at the airports while ur flights are sent to Barbados and all other islands except Dominica. Also hope that in light of Dominica’s contribution and the appreciation that we are treated better by Antigua and Barbados while we seat at their airports without a bottle of water and any information as to exactly what is happening or apologies for the delays…Lets just hope that the service also improves or else we Dominicans are doomed to the same mistreatment and high prices!

    • grell
      June 17, 2013

      am withe you antigua workers @ the airport has no hospitality training and that very sad.i despise the island.

      • me2
        June 18, 2013

        You DESPISE the island because the workers at the airport have according to you, no hospitality training?….laughable

  15. JoeBob
    June 17, 2013

    the move to ATR’s and replacing our fleet of dash-8s was a real smart move, think of these new planes of the toyota corolla’s of planes… dependable, easy to maintain, and long lasting

  16. June 17, 2013

    The 2million dollars and more Skerrit Invest in LIAT is Dominica’s Money, so Dominica thats the shareholde, not

    • Malgraysa
      June 17, 2013

      Quite right. It are not the prime ministers, who are shareholders (unless they have a holding in a private capacity) but the the Govts. they represent. This could have been reported better.

  17. Lil Blue
    June 17, 2013

    Hope it can fly to Melville hall

    • STILL
      June 17, 2013

      These are the same aircraft that American Eagle has been flying to Melville for years. Why do some of insist on appearing to be idiots when we comment

    • Common sense
      June 17, 2013

      well Eagle use to fly here so i dont see why you even makin such a comment.. Lil Blue come out from your crab whole

  18. June 17, 2013

    Mr. Holder, will we be getting flights straight from San Juan to Melville Hall?

    Mr. Skerrit, as a shareholder in LIAT, I hope you emphasize on DIRECT FLIGHTS from Puerto Rico. NO CRISS CROSS. I also hope the rates will be reasonable, if not, many of us will consider vacationing in other countries.

  19. TRUEMAN
    June 17, 2013

    ***Keep your praises***

    Attn: Dr. Jean Holder

    We don’t care about your praises!!

    All we care about is making this airline profitable. Because if it is NOT then you will be back asking for more money.

    That we can’t afford!

    -Thanks

    • Jay
      June 17, 2013

      What I want to know is, does jean Holder pay the full ticket price when he flies LIAT like us, the long suffering common passengers?

      • Manicou
        June 18, 2013

        I dont think so

      • STILL
        June 18, 2013

        Do the regular staff pay full price when the fly Liat. probably not. Staff discounts may be part of the compensation package. this is common practice among most established businesses so why would it be different for Liat

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

:) :-D :wink: :( 8-O :lol: :-| :cry: 8) :-? :-P :-x :?: :oops: :twisted: :mrgreen: more »

 characters available