LIAT introduces new cargo service

Edwards

LIAT is poised to introduce its all cargo schedule freight service come October 5 and the regional carrier is encouraging Dominican farmers to take advantage of the service to export their produce.

To facilitate the operations, LIAT will convert one of its Dash 8-100 aircraft to a full cargo service vessel.

Speaking at a press conference earlier today, Wilbur Edwards, LIAT’s director of ground operations, Cargo and Quikpak, said the initiative has been on the shelves since 2003.

“We envisage operating five days a week …. However, we plan to start off cautiously with a three-day-a-week operation until the demand dictates an increas,” Edwards said.

LIAT executives have been in talks with the island’s Ministers of Agriculture and Trade, both of whom are reportedly in full support of the initiative.

Millennium Freight Service will coordinate the general sales operations for Dominica. The company will seek to assist in the growth of the business locally, help in the search for new markets and work with operatives, particularly with DEXIA, in guaranteeing the lift and assuring the provision of integrity in the service through relationships with LIAT and associated partner airlines.

Edwards opined that LIAT is by far the most suitable carrier to implement the intra Caribbean freighter operation, noting that the initiative will serve to amplify the regional governments’ aggressive promotions to improved trade among the islands.

“In order for this to be achieved there will be need for increased opportunities of cargo uplift so that exporters could improve their markets both regionally and internationally,” he said.

To date, there is little cargo airlift between islands.

“The time is now perfect for LIAT to take up the mantle as a truly Caribbean carrier and provide the necessary uplift to facilitate trade and provide the opportunity for farmers and exporters alike to improve their business through market expansion,” Edwards said.

The cargo service comes following at least two feasibility studies carried out by the airline, both of which indicated significant demand for additional reliable cargo service within the Eastern Caribbean.

The airline says it is ready to build reliability and integrity into our schedule in a very short time.

The company will utilize automated cargo systems software to make bookings, generate manifests, provide rate calculations, and cargo tracking services on its web site, www.liatcargo.com. This web site will be opened for the startup.

Shipments to Barbados and outside the region will be handled by Caribbean Aircraft Handling Company.

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11 Comments

  1. ANTIGUAN
    September 7, 2010

    @runs: I guess Dominicans will have to use the fig boats to get around if there are soo many issues with LIAT. We rather the planes from there, we will see you guys in the Sea….lol

  2. ANTIGUAN
    September 7, 2010

    @wey-hey…: I will see you on the next LIAT Flight to Antigua. tHIS WHAT YOU GOT.

  3. runs
    September 7, 2010

    wonder if they cant maintain it…as those LIAT folks around the head table are pretty good for plenty of chatter over the years and absouletly no results…

    i dont see this working in the future because liat hasnt improve its customer/passenger service to any new levels, they still have issues with their crew etc…the dh8-100 series…hmm trust me their will be plenty of waiting around ports trust me on that,one aircraft to do that service,time will tell

    dont take this with a grain of salt…for liat to ever show any new frontiers they need fresh blood at the helm not just stale guys who site back and lack management skills

    grossly incomptent bunch of folks!!

  4. wey-hey...
    September 7, 2010

    Liat should put their act together with the services that they already provide before branching out into new ventures!!! If they still cannot guarentee that when a client flys to a destination, the clients bags will arrive TOGETHER with them, the flights will be on time, sufficient baggage weight is allowed etc., how the heck are they going to manage transporting cargo efficiently???!!!!

    Fly your kite LIAT….

  5. naturelover
    September 7, 2010

    WHAT TO0OK THEM SO LONG TO COME UP WITH THIS SOLUTION,OH MY ,MY -BUT SURE IS A GOOD MOVE

  6. ANTIGUAN
    September 6, 2010

    @Irie: I hope that Dominica will make their provisions cheaper now since that they ‘re getting cargo service from LIAT.

  7. ANTIGUAN
    September 6, 2010

    @Valda Bruno – Durand: Antiguans don’t steal provisions like Dominicans, we are not hungry. Dominicans always say that they’re hungry so check your Airport people in Dominica.

  8. anonymous
    September 6, 2010

    This regular contributor to DNO who is always so negative. Isn’t that someone who works with young people? Poor young people, with such negativity surrounding them it s no wonder…………..

  9. smiling
    September 6, 2010

    If the cargo rates remain anything like what they are now that service will be useless to the Dominican farmer as the produce will cost more to get to the market than the market is willing to pay for it. Hopefully LIAT will have the sense to make the rates feasable & make their money by moving volume.

  10. Valda Bruno - Durand
    September 6, 2010

    WOOSH @IRIE YOU HAVE ME DYING OF LAUGHTER I HOPE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY TOOK INTO CONSIDERATION THEM STICKY FINGER WORKERS THAT ON THE AIRPORT IN ANTIGUA. DOH WORRY SOMEBODY WILL “WONJEA” FIX A DASHEEN FOR THEM. ALL THE BEST LIAT.

  11. Irie
    September 6, 2010

    Oh gosh! Look is now dasheen and fig will LEAVE ISLAND ANY TIME…..fig in transit in antigua…dunno if she will reach her destination in SXM before she ripe? Oh my and what about de price? I hope it affordable for our poor struggling farmers and hucksters…so that they can make a profit otherwise is only on vacation once a year you will be able to send your fig and dasheen. I wish Liat luck, but I was hopping they would be more accomodating to the human passengers first re: ticket prices….

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