LIAT could return to the skies soon

LIAT Landing

The Information Minister in Antigua and Barbuda, Melford Nicholas has said that he has received confirmation that LIAT could return to the skies in the “new month”.

While Nicholas did not give specific dates, he said it was that country’s Prime Minister Gaston Browne who confirmed that LIAT will begin its rescheduled services in October.

According to Nicholas, “there are still operational issues that are being worked out” but the conditions are going to be in place for LIAT to take to the skies.

After previously supporting recommendations for liquidation of LIAT, governments of Barbados and St Vincent have agreed to transfer their shares in the company “for the grand sum of $1 each” per share to Antigua and Barbuda, as the airline moves forward with a reorganization plan that could see it back in the skies in 60 – 90 days.

However with a re-organization plan that calls for the injection of US$40 million, and the airline up to its ears in debt, the surrendering of the shares marks the first step in a complex journey to the revival of the 66 year old airline.

LIAT has over US$100M in debt, some US$11M of which is owed to passengers from all across the Caribbean, including Guyana, and over US$80 million owed to staff.

Due to successive yearly losses, LIAT was particularly hard hit by effects that COVID-19 travel restrictions has had on the airline industry since early 2020, leaving the airline sinking in debt.

The governments of Barbados and St Vincent, along with those of Antigua and Dominica are the major shareholders of LIAT, which is headquartered in Antigua.

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12 Comments

  1. Amino
    October 10, 2020

    Maybe the postal service will resume…. I’m hoping :-D

  2. Nudibranch
    October 10, 2020

    LIAT has over US$100M in debt, some US$11M of which is owed to passengers from all across the Caribbean, including Guyana, and over US$80 million owed to staff.

    And the “its good enough for those people” attitude means it returns? Why strive to be the best when folks will put up with mediocrity due to no options .Somebody just shoot it in the head and be done with it. A mercy killing.
    We now have several seemingly viable operators all crowing for air access routes, show us how competitive you all are by changing prices. Currently you’re all the same, what make me want to pick one over the other. One of you please bring our international mail into the island whilst you’re at it. You may find it in SXM, ANU and definitely in Santo Domingo as most of the postal workers in MIA don’t speak english and continue to dump mail to Dominica in the Dominicana box for delivery.

    I’ll never see any of the money back for numerous flights, as I never got so much as an acknowledgement.

  3. Fedup
    October 9, 2020

    I wouldn’t be flying LIAT again if I don’t get my money back and I guess that goes for a lot of ticket holders.

  4. Channel 1
    October 9, 2020

    Folks, in the instances of LIAT & Ross, note the stark differences in the actions of Gaston & Roosevelt. Now while Gaston & Skerrit appear to be part of an ‘Axis of Labour’ system in the region, take note of how Gaston fought extremely hard to stop the collapse of LIAT and/or loss of LIAT headquarters to Barbados (over the years). He knew such a loss would result in serious unemployment in Antigua.

    In the case of Dominica, around Oct./Nov. 2018, it appeared for a time as if Ross was delaying or slowing down their move to Barbados. At a meeting with returning diasporans around that time, Skerrit threatened to take Ross to court if they did not hurry up & move. Here was an opportunity for Skerrit & Co to ‘sweeten & seduce’ Ross to rethink their move but dat joker went and threatened court action.

    Hundreds of direct & indirect jobs were lost as result. Up to now, Skerrit’s new university to replace Ross yet to reach.

    What kind of madness possesses Dominicans boy 8-O

  5. Masa
    October 9, 2020

    Skerrit bail them out skerrit hurry we want our international airport

  6. Ibo France
    October 9, 2020

    The airline and cruise ship industries are under water right now. Their survivability is questionable. They won’t be the same pre-COVID if they happen to make it back. In LIAT’s case, I’m hoping for the very best under a new regime. A new, reliable, streamlined LIAT (Love Is Always There) can make it happen for intra regional travel. It’s an indispensable bridge in the sky for many islands.

    • Malatete
      October 11, 2020

      Only if they stifle completion by restricting or outright denying landing rights to outside carriers. This applies certainly to Antigua, to a marginally smaller extent to Dominica and less so toSt. Kitts & Barbados. Such restrictive practices would not endear a new LIATto the travelling public and serve only to salvage some of
      Gaston Brown’s pride.

  7. I want to know
    October 9, 2020

    So that would mean Caribbean Airlines would have to stop traveling to Dominica then?

    • October 12, 2020

      No, it doesn’t. Nor would Air Antilles, WinAir, Silver, etc.

  8. Channel 1
    October 9, 2020

    Yipppppeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are waiting patiently for your return LIAT. Hurry.

    • October 9, 2020

      so I can get my money back

      • Channel 1
        October 11, 2020

        @lookit – Ask LIAT to hold your money safely as a credit so you can use that credit after COVID to rebook a trip on LIAT to somewhere. :lol: :wink: :wink:

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