The once mighty regional carrier LIAT 1974 Ltd, has officially ceased its operations from the VC International Airport today. The airline took its final flight earlier today, clearing the skies for LIAT 2020 Ltd. The airline has been in administration since July 2020, and its government shareholders from Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, and St Vincent and the Grenadines had agreed to liquidate the company in 2022.
This has led to a bittersweet day for LIAT and its employees, who are now left uncertain about their future. On its social media page, the airline expressed gratitude to the public for all of their support since its inception.
Despite the efforts of the Antigua and Barbuda governments to revive the airline under a new name, LIAT 2020, with a tentative agreement in place with Nigerian airline Air Peace and its owner Allen Onyema, the airline’s future remains uncertain. In a recent letter addressed to the company’s staff, the LIAT administrator Cleaveland Seaforth has announced that effective February 4, 2024, all employees will be made redundant without payment, affecting more than 90 employees.
This news has been criticized by the Antigua and Barbuda Worker’s Union, who have voiced their concerns about the unfair treatment of the employees and the lack of support from the company’s shareholders.
Overall, the future of LIAT and its employees remains uncertain, and the aviation industry in the Caribbean will undoubtedly be impacted by the loss of this major player.
we have to ask the questions what are the leaders in the Caribbean doing??? to allow this to happen??? I don’t wanna come on here and critise, that’s just to easy. Ultimately they have to accept responsibility and accountability because it’s collectively there region. looks like they couldn’t organise a drink up in a rumshop lol and some would say that’s certainly not the case đ đ lol
The question we must ask as Dominicans, is how much of our tax paying $$$$ has the Prime Minister committed to LIAT 2020?, since this issue hasn’t come up in parliament.
We announce the death of LIAT. Left to morn are three (3) sons and one (1) daughter Ralph, Gaston, Roosevelt and Mia. We appreciated her third son spending over $8,000,000 of his subjects money to help cure LIAT bobo but in the end LIAT still gone. They used to call her Leave Island Any Time. Funeral is in Antigua and burial at VCBIA,
May LIAT Rest In Peace
Well, If LIAT is closing down, what airlines will be coming to this new international Airport in Wesley?
It make the feasibility of the Wesley International Airport more incredible. I think that we should pause the building. Why throw away good money after a bad project.
Dominica does not need an international airport now. We do not have to do something sexy to survive. We just need steady progress, in jobs. exports, health care, and lower taxes. It is like a good husband. He can bring ÂŁ1 million income one day, and nothing for the rest of his marriage. His wife and family would prefer a steady amount each year, that can meet the bills as and when they fall due.
Mr Skerrit, you sound like a good Grammar school boy, from B J House like me. Do not bankrupt the country. Be cautious. Do not mortgage Dominica to China, just to boast that you built an international airport.
If we cannot pay for the airport or use it sufficiently to benefit the country, then what is the point?
“Well, If LIAT is closing down, what airlines will be coming to this new international Airport in Wesley? It make the feasibility of the Wesley International Airport more incredible. I think that we should pause the building. Why throw away good money after a bad project.”
Respectfully disagree with the statement Dominica does not need an international airport now. If not now, when? An international airport/easier access from NA & Europe will increase our chances for greater direct foreign investment etc.
However, I do agree 100% we should be laser focused on making significant progress marketing the country for greater international exposure, increasing our exports, and continually improving our health care.
Who said there will be añ International Airport built in Wesley!
Roosevelt Skerrit?
In the English vocabulary, are two synonymous words “welldon” and “well said:” Roosevelt philosophy is well said, rather than done, ” complete.” A few short weeks ago Roosevelt via his lady puppet, the wigg-head woman Charles, said they were extending Melville Hall Airport to accommodate larger Aircrafts, because “larger Aircrafts say they will come if they lengthen the Runway.”
They brought their accomplises in crimes paid them only Roosevelt knows how much in millions, they got their kickback, in money, since lengthening complete, talking larger Aircrafts has not yet arrived.
Then then then they talked crap about they don’t want to be like St. Vincent, when larger Aircrafts could not go because they could not finish Argyle Int. on time, commonsen dictates it makes no sense to have two Int. Airport approximately there miles apart!
what ever they building is not an International Airport!
Roland Mitchell, what is the relationship between LIAT closing and the building of an international airport? Must we continue to rely on neighboring islands for airline connectivity to the wider world? Peoples like you seem to be comfortable with Dominica being at the bottom when it comes development. And speaking of China, are you aware that China is one of the major owners of Heathrow International Airport in London.
Go LIAT GO! LIAT is #1 for me. I love LIAT, I grew up flying on this bird. It has become very unreliable lately due to this ânew generationâ running it who knows nothing about CUSTOMER SERVICE. Donât know how to speak respectfully to people and customers. The workers would take their home problems on the job and be rude. I straightened them out a few years ago by filing a complaint against them and they had to call me and apologize and gave me credit for causing me to miss my connecting flight.
When the public allows things to go unaddressed it makes the situation worse. I see folks quarrel and carrying on at the airport over delayed flights; but thatâs as far as theyâd go. They are too lazy to take the time to file a complaint against the scrupulous airlines. Thus, the real problem is never fixed. Itâs the same in politics.
Thatâs dreadful no redundancy pay for those workers, I am sure those executives or prime ministers could pay the people from their own budgets, Iâm sure mr skeritt could afford to give the Dominican people who dedicated their working lives to liat some of his corrupt millions and not notice it from his private off shore accounts
Thank your for your service LIAT 1974 Ltd. Looking forward to the new chapter of LIAT ie LIAT 2020.
I refuse to support a company owned by a Nigerian fraudster. In fact, I refuse to support any company owned by a Nigerian in general, therefore I will not be using LIAT 2020.
LIAT is supposed to be a Caribbean regional airline company, youâre telling me thereâs not any governments or millionaires in the region that couldâve helped the company instead?
You all though Liat was trouble wait till you get a taste of what Air Peace the new Liait 2020 has to offer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut1VvP8yIDQ
AIR PEACE – UNPUNCTUAL, UNSAFE, UNPROFESSIONAL, NIGERIA’S WORST AIRLINE!
The above video says it all
@The king, all kings are millionaires.
It’s sad to see a once dominant airline go out of business, but the industry and region have since moved on. At this stage the absence of LUAT will not be missed given the growth of the other private airlines.
As much as Gaston Browne wanted to keep L7AR afloat at all costs, it is obvious to everyone that given how the airline was run, it could not survive in this environment.
I agree. It is sad. It is also sad to see that we are building an international airport, and the volume of business just halved.
@Zandoli – …..the absence of LIAT will not be missed? Sir/madam, I do not think you truly know what you are talking about. The industry & region has since moved on you say? Well yes, definitely backwards re: intra-regional travel.
I credit Gaston for fighting tooth & nail to keep LIAT operational and keep its headquarters in Antigua (resisting all attempts by elements in a certain southern Caribbean to poach LIAT & take the headquarters to their island).
If Gaston Browne was Prime Minister of Dominica, it is quite possible that Ross University would still have been in Dominica instead of now in a particular certain island in the southern Caribbean.
Now persons in Dominica are beginning to realize how very difficult in this day & age it is to start & run an American/Canadian-focused medical school from scratch.