LIAT to get new aircraft
Dominica News Online - Friday, July 20th, 2012 at 3:39 PM
The majority shareholders of LIAT have decided which aircraft type will be used to replace the airline’s aging fleet, the company said in a just released statement.
The statement did not name the manufacturer or the type of aircraft that will be used saying only, that the decision came after the company completed its analysis and evaluation of the proposals submitted by aircraft manufacturers.
The decision was made at a meeting in Barbados on Friday of the major shareholders of LIAT, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Freundel Stuart, Prime Minister of Barbados and Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda and Chairman, Board and Management of LIAT.
“The company will now proceed to discussions with the manufacturer of the first type selected. The discussions are intended to end in an agreement for the acquisition of new aircraft for the airline,” Dr. Gonsalves told a press conference following the meeting.
He said he did not wish to declare what aircraft type would be used. “It would also be inappropriate at this stage before discussion with the manufacturers to give an indication of the decision of the company in the selection of an aircraft type,” Dr. Gonsalves pointed out.
The company anticipates that these negotiations will commence immediately and proceed swiftly and soon thereafter a formal announcement will be made regarding the selection.
Recently Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit announced that Dominica will be investing in LIAT with an $8-million cash injection.
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67 Comments
I don’t care who they buy from or what they buy. All I want is for them to fly, leave and arrive on time at there destination’s. Seeing that Liat are always complaning about losing money, why not ask Richard Branson to help. Whatever the man touches turns to gold. Shame he doen’t start up an airline in the Caribbean.
one thing i like about human been is will bitch and bitch to ourself and when comes to give our view in public setting they don’t give it we know that is a poor state .
Liat new aircraft i think that’s the one they going to get here is a better link http://q400nextgen.com/en/
no i dont think they are gonna buy the q 400′s, it doesnt suite the criteria for the short hopes the 300′s are doing for liat… most likely they will go for the atr’s
Liat has to stik with prop engine De Haviland it’s cheper to fly and mainten here are the link to the Q400 http://www.wingsoverkansas.com/news/article.asp?id=1007
I left dom a week after labor took power.
i do not support any political parties in dominica or anywhere. Until someone puts the agenda of the country (red, blue and green )first and not that of outside governments and coporations. Liat is an airline I have never supported. 1 time was enough for me to be turned off of the airline. Privatize the company, sell it to someone who could turn a profit. Make it efficient
Fleet replacement is overdue. Those Dash 8 planes are quite good, but at least some of them which are still being used came into service around 1985 or 1986. That’s quite old!!
I thought the plural of aircraft was aircraft with no “s” like sheep!
It hurts my heart to hear people keep repeating themselves that the investment that the Hon. Prime Minister made in Liat was a bad one. Bet you if he had paid that to American Eagle to come into DA it would have been the wisest and best-est decision he had made. Because its American Eagle. Do you know how much those other Caribbean Countries subsidising outside airlines and whether they are full in and out or not they still guarantee that subsidy.. I am in total agreement with Mr Skerritt better you prop up who you know than who you don’t. He can now properly negotiate terms with the Liat board because of this investment. I also agree that the Dash-8 aircraft have been Liat’s most successful aircraft but if they can get an even more fuel/ cost efficient model or aircraft then they should by all means take it. After all its us the travelling public that will benefit.
Come on people as the Nature Isle of the Caribbean isn’t it our responsibility to promote a cleaner environment? $8m can’t buy aircrafts nor a seat at the decision-making table, but at least it can certainly buy a few garbage bins to keep the new aircrafts clean. At least we are contributing ……
Check Wikipedia and you will see that one Dash 8 400 costs a cool US $27,000,000. That is MILLIONS for just one plane and LIAT needs at least 8 of them… You all think that running a small regional airline easy?!
Very few airlines purchase planes. they usually do a lease arrangement with the aircraft company.
Crse turn to Blessings for LIAT, Keep flying high, nyour new fleet wil urge Dominica to enhance our Airport Facility. Leaders In Air Transport. The best Airline the West Indies.
Dominica is not a share holder so we have no say in any decision .wether the share holders by jet or sea plane we have no say .why the PM gave so much money and still have no say
And they will probably get new higher air fare rates too.
Skerrit could have at least send peepong tom or Tony to sit at the LIAT table. If we have no say in the purchasing of the aircraft how can we be sure that we willgrow have a say in decisions involving routes etc.
buy from Bombardier in Canada,they also have seaplanes.
Why go wiht the same garbage all the time.
De Haviland is atually a subsidiary of Canadian based Bombardier
I don’t think you know about aviation.
The Dash-8 aircraft currently operated by LIAT are Bombardier planes!
That’s true.
De Havilland Dash-8′s are part of the Bombardier Family. The company now make Dash8-400′s but call them Bombardier Q400′s as the “DeHavilland” part of the company no longer exist or sum’n like that
Would like to see them with jet engine instead of prop engine
So they cannot fly to melville ?
Jet makes no,sense on such short routes.
What do you have against the props ?
That might not be sustainable. BWIA ran an “airbridge” service to and from Tobago for many years but eventually conceded that using jet planes for short hops between the islands is expensive, so they resorted to using the De Haviland (Bombardier) prop aircraft. I’m not sure, but that might have been a factor in grounding the short-lived airline of the mid-90′s, Carib Express.
Unfortunately, jet turbine engines are inefficient for short travel, so it’s more economical to have the jet prop engines to do these interisland flights, most of which are under an hour
To mr met-yo stop critzing D.N.O for not posting your comments I am very gratefull to have D.N.O bringing me great information across the world wide web in Southern California, I left home before you were born, and this is the best thing happend since slice bread, D.N.O bring me up to date info on all the major happenings so knox it off , stop hating, or get your own show.
Thanks D.N.O. .. [A NATIVE] .
Liat also needs to more efficient and cheaper. It should seek an airline partner.
As for Dominica – we should establish a 6 plane fleet of our own. Two running Dom to San Juan, two running Dom to Antigua and two running Dom to Barbados. No international airport required if we have Nature Island Airlines.
good suggestion
but wont agree with you on the no international airport part at all
we need that bad
u maybe stay out too long
Sakway sot
Great suggestion! The International Airport is definitely needed in the future but not now, so i agree with you 100%.
These air heads are quick to criticize your comment, but they have no idea of whats going on. And how much of a strain this can put on Dominica.
People of Dominica need to realize that Dominica is NOT a hot airline destination, and putting and international airport is not gonna change that. We need to provide a market to attract visitors creating a surplus in air travel which in terms creates a need for more seats available to the island.
None of the International/ “Big Jet” carriers are not gonna operate a flight into Dominica where its clear that ther are making a loss. Hello !!!! Countries such as St.Lucia had to pay American Airlines for every empty seat on flights into their new international airport. If there was a such a need for a more seats American Eagle Would have had more flights into Dominica from San Juan instead of ONE!
St.Thomas, that is US, can’t even afford to keep up with the costs of their airport but is Dominica all you want to go break it back. St.Thomas Electricity bill was a whopping $300,000 a month. And yes thats true, look it up! They had to end up installing solar panels to cut down on the costs.
ITs all about ECONOMICS. So stop talking shit and lets focus on whats feasible.
Dominica is an unprofitable route for any airline. Hence the 8 million injection, goodwill per say
Well then do something about it….. Or shut the up u jackhole
So sick of u dummi ni cants crying down ur country for everything.
Buy a ticket and move ur house, land and children to north korea if u hate ur country so much!!
lol @Liat and LOL@ Skerro what a joke!! 8 million is to subsidize the airline so that they can keep coming to this island. Like many commercial airlines around the world receive incentives to fly to different destinations. Liat is a dead dog, it needs privatization a move away from government ownership. It is so disgusting. But who cares thats how yall want it so thats how it will stay!
but why was our pm skero not at the meeting,i would really like to no.he just gave 8 million.
You are right. Perhaps this suggests that the $8 million did not buy any shares?
You should replace him.
What do you all really think is $8million when u are speaking of airplanes? DO you know how much each cost?
$8 is nothing compared to LIAT Assets total.
How many of the New Fleet will $8 M purchase? stop thinking $8M is a whole lot of money when we are speaking of the air industry.
two single engine planes and can hold 2 passengers and are made by benja shoe. Lateness Is A Trend
lol. it have to be… that airline is pure waste of time always late.
It really makes no difference. BAD MANAGEMENT is going to continue to have LIAT in financial misery!!
It just amazing how they can come up with a speedy solution but not for the proper management of that airline.
Liat is buying new aircrafts but they are still not even giving a promisary note to their ex staff re their insurance money which is owed to them.
can you believe after a whole year Liat has not told these poor folks one word,will not even tke their calls. Will Liat have a conscience?
All I would want to say at this time is that I hope the new equipment (aircraft type)can be accommodated at Melville Hall in terms of runway length etc. If it is the DAsh 8 400-series then it becomes marginal – if it is the Embraer (Brasil short hall jet then Melville Hall not in it. Well that would be interesting.
I suspect that they will stick with De Havilland as to switch to another make of aircraft will entail quite a bit of costs which includes retraining the pilots,maintenace staff and of course restocking a new set of spares. So I think it would be Q 400′s that they will go for
You and I thinking alike. Matter of fact I read about it sometimes last year.
@ Milly
All I can say is, Does anyone know what this cash injection by the PM means to D/CA?
Dominica is poorest country in the Caribbean. High unemployment, crumbling infrastructure and we are giving LIAT 8 million.
Remember those words” NO LAW NO CONSTITUTION CAN STOP ME.
Yes this injection of money in LIAT means a lot for Dominica.
It means making a first step to a better control of our air access, by being sitting at LIAT’s table and therefore having the opportunity to weigh on the best schedule for Dominica,
It allows to hopefully increase the number of flights to one or two selected hubs, in order to allow for same day access to Dominica, at cheaper rates, from North America and Europe,
It allows to deal directly with MIAT, which was difficult when Dominica was complaining after LIAT but was not willing to invest in this Caribbean tool.
It is quite easy to criticize but the options to improve air access at a decent cost were not so many,
LIAT”s move by the Government of Dominica appears to be a smart one.
It will not be enough, this is why talks with other airlines are required, but it will already be a good step.
support u comment, but we are not the poorest, need to get that out of our mentality
We are the poorest!!!
Some fools repeat what fools say…and in so doing becomes foolish.
Qualifications for Representatives and Senators.
31.-
Subject to the provisions of section 32 of this Constitution, a person shall be qualified to be elected as a Representative if, and shall not be so qualified unless, he-
is a citizen of Dominica of the age of twenty-one years or upwards;
has resided in Dominica for a period of twelve months immediately before the date of his nomination for election or is domiciled and resident in Dominica at that date; and
is able to speak and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the proceedings of the House.
Subject to the provisions of section 32 of this Constitution, a person shall be qualified unless, he-
is a Commonwealth citizen of the age of twenty-one years or upwards;
is Domiciled and resident in Dominica at the date of his appointment or nomination for election; and
is able to speak and, unless incapacitated by blindness or other physical cause, to read the English language with a degree of proficiency sufficient to enable him to take an active part in the proceedings of the House.
So tell me where in the Constitution of Dominica it says that the Right Hon Roosevelt Skerrit could not be nominated.
Please tell me where it states that.
Now let’s dicuss LIAT
Caribbean Airways have four brand new ATR-72 surplus to requirement, which are looking for a home. I’m sure they would be happy to enter into favourable leasing terms (wet- or dry) with LIAT.
One thing allu have it for me on that site eh. I posted my comment right after the story was uploaded at 3:39pm. I seeing 2 others approve and my waiting. Then it will stay waiting till tomorrow. Then if I complain, it will be approved. Including this message.
I doh know why allu like to provoke a roro like that
One thing Dominicans not easy eh.
So you want to tell the people them how to run their site man.
You know how many times I never see my comments or my comments take a long time to be approved?
What am I going to say? Make noise?
Hahahahahahaha
hahahahaha…allu too mahjee…they know very well who this is..that is why they always do that…it is deliberate…i does test them all the time…and cross check…its because I know they know who this is..that is why I made the comment…so ease up on me..lol
Met Yo, this is where entrepreunership comes in….you don’t like what this site is doing to your post, create your news website with auto approved comments and yours will fly through with no-vetting of your comments.
Stop relying on other people business…you are smart enuff…all you need is a little HTML Basic for dummies…
LOL
So that’s what PM money was used for? Hmmmmmmmm
Did LIAT discussed the purchase with Skerrit after all he gave them 4 millions out of the 8 millions he promised them and how many of our people can purchase tickets to fly around the region muchless noth American they dont have jobs and that money could go into creating job
hmmmm insurance money + 8million investment = new aircraft…….smells like set-up to me!!….what do u think D/ca?
AND U NOT HAPPY? U SHOULD BE!
Liat needs at least two 747 which will allow them to be more competitive with Caribbean airlines and the same time facilitating the needs of customers.
747 cannot land in DOMINICA sir remember night landing we have.. not an International Airport
boy is dotish yu dotish not true zeh zeh/
lol..look jokes!!! A 747?
LIAT is for the purpose of island hopping. you expect to island hop with a 747?? have you lost your faculties?
I thought we became a Shareholder after this 8 million injection? LOL
Aye Skerrit…you good too we…hahahaha
Yes, MET YO, we did become a shareholder of LIAT, but not a major shareholder. The investments made by Antigua, Barbados and St. Vincent are much more that the $8 million we just invested thus making them major investors in LIAT.
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