Regional airline LIAT is to start scheduled night flights to Dominica from July 06, 2011.
The flights to be placed in LIAT’s timetable will start travel from Antigua into Dominica and later from Barbados into Dominica, port officials have announced.
Questions have been raised continuously concerning LIAT’s scheduled night flights since Dominica ushered in night landing at the enhanced Melville Hall airport last year.
Minister for Ports Rayburn Blackmoore gave updates on the night schedules this week describing it as great news for passengers and for Dominica’s economy.
The only way we can put lait to sleep is to build an international airport
Thank be to Jehovah god, then the prime minister of Dominica who opening doors, for this Island. Yes planes will land in my island very safe in god’s name, and you all negative people, who have no good for this island keep your comment to yourself. Dominica will move up, We don’t need your support. That thing. will become an International airport soon, very soon. I believe the prime minister working hard toward the future of his people. Dominicans congrats.
who vex thats dem…i for sure not missing my flight if it have to land in the night..is home i comin and is home i comin….
Very nice me too. Day or night when it is your time to go it is your time.
stupes – what if it’s your time nonsense- all you can do it if all you want – NOT ME – I not endangering my life for no maji
Well, you could die from anything man… Heart attack, stroke and these give you no warning:) Landslide anyone? No one knows the time or the hour. That is what the bible says unless we just say we believe and not really believe.
labour party and liat have dominicans on a yoyo.
when labour suspect dey losing a grip on d massive dey pulling a stunt
good one skerrit… dey train u well
when i die and cum back, i want a daddy jus like skerrit!!
dominicans God’s Speed!!
I listened to the report on the news and there was no mention of night landing. There was however mention of landing after sunset.
lol
A few of you commentors to have some good points. No offense to some Dominicans on a whole but it is the people they put in government had hold you all back. For one liat having just 2 night flights means nothing what about other airlines or even private jet. It is time Dominica build an international airport and give dominica a change, not just on incoming and out going flights but image the increase in the ecomonic. With Cruiseship limited stops in Dominica, what then will there be for Dominicans to do for employment then deep into Drugs. COME On People, talk to you reps or even the government cause even they are accessiable.
i agree with ur comment, but dominica is taking steps in progress
we do indeed need alot of things but we will do it a step at a time
lil by lil. All those who post negative comment. I honor your opinion
but if we all work together things will move on faster, Dominica belongs to all of us
It does not belong to Skerrit
you can start the process of building the international airport. If you start now it willbe ready for your visit in the summer. That would be nice we!
The other evening I was leaving Dominica and LIAT was late and it got dark and rainy.
Thanks to the lights the plane was able to land and take us on our way. If that money had not been spent and there were no lights, the plane would have flown over, the incoming passangers would have to sleep at a hotel in Antigua and we would have had to go back to Roseau as used to happen in the past.
So people it not ‘SCHEDULED NIGHT LANDING’ alone you have to think of. The lights and extra work has helped to improve things.
sweety – if we had an international airport – we would have no need to to return to Antigua because it is ‘dark and rainy’. So stop praising the upgrade and request and international airport already.
You wanna pay for the international airport and upkeep out of your pocket? Dominica’s economy, though growing, CANNOT support an international aiport. An international airport would be a dream come true, but it’s unrealistic. We are on the other hand, very thankful for the improvements…evening landings and all
@possie girl @ Polk
grow up and stop living in the 18th century – u can afford a 27 million palace but you cannot start an international airport – stupes! I have no problem paying my taxes to help upkeep an international airport – unlike you that maybe sitting just waiting for a hand out – that’s why you so laissez-faire and content to wait for ‘improvements’ stupes!!!
Reading these comments make me so f..king sick. I am tempted to say that dominicans are the most selfish and dunce people in the world but i will take this back and say that showing support for one party comes at any cost even at the expense of our knowledge and wisdom. Why is dominicans still saying that we cannot afford and international airport. F. Ck. The government borrow for roads , statehouse,school etc. Can these item generate revenue to service the debt. No . But the roads are conducive for economic development so we borrow from the french and do some roads. The same could be said of other infrastructure being build all over the country(though some. Is grant money). Dominica tourism industry is suffering because of the lack of stay over visitors. This is directly related to the fact that we have no direct flights from the Recognize markets so we can’t fully market ourselves. Adding to that is the fact that no recognise hotel chain is going to come invest in dominica ( and please the morroco thing is a bi lateral ) until they have carriage meaning an airport. I need not go into the economic impact that the airport will have and how government revenue will increase more than enough that they could service any loan that they. Use to build an airport. Food for thought : antigua is under an IMF programm but recently borrowed 50m USD to improve The airport. That night landing has no Great impact and will only be useful around activity time when a lot of dominicans coming home. We Want Visitors and i not talking about them people that coming back home , leaving by familly, driving friends car, eating broth everyday, not taking taxi to and from airport , etc. These are most of u here commenting on this thread and are celebrating liat putting and additional flight. You all are so easy to please. Always striving for second place. We need to demand the best and by so doing increase our competitiveness so that we can improve our market share. Dominica hasthe best sights , # one in eco tourism but torist eh coming.WHY. Is because of you’ll u continue campaign against an int’ airport. Then u all say that you love dominica. Bunch of F…king liars. Just happy that u might not have to overnight when coming for festival and carnival. We build a big stadium and will never earn the annual mentainace cost in a fiscal year. But you all talking about Afford. We accumulating nuff debt from petro caribe deal. We not paying venezuela ,they want to discontinue the program. Dr Aaron not saying nothing from the last meeting but he must know that there are dominicans working for other governments who had representative at the meeting. Theey running up debt for the wrong reason. Everybody building in possie getting LPO , no accountability at the quarry eTc all these is going to lead to debt but whEn comes to the international airport man talking about dominica cannot afford. Bunch of jokers. Somebody here giving a bajan words while Pine hill juices selling in DA and all our fruits wasting. We should try emulate the bajans and not fight with. Them. We must be aware that other ccountries are looking at us. Opps! i even forget i have to sleep.
OK, we are all stupid.
Do you know how much it would cost to build an international airport – more then the entire GDP of Dominica.
Do you know, how much it would cost to maintain this international airport – more then Dominica can afford right now.
Tell me, which international airline would be prepared to make use of this international airport – BA, Virgin, AA, Delta, Lufthansa, Air France? I don’t think so!!
It would be interesting to know what LIAT ( or other airlines ) have decided, in terms of procedure, in case of aborted landing at night at Melville Hall ?
I mean, in case landing has to be abandonned at the last moment, i.e AFTER the decision altitude, when the pilot has no alternative but to fly towards the mountains in darkness and at low altitude !!!
( since at night, landing has to be performed the opposite way : coming from the sea )
Any answer to that ?
WELL MY FRIEND THERE ARE PROCEDURES IN PLACE AND THATS WHY LIAT IS CONEUCTING NIGHT CIRCUIT TRAINING WITH ITS PILOTS.
Pathetic!!
We took almost 10 years and over a 100 million dollars to upgrade this airport…and what do we have to show for it?? One…maybe two night flights from LIAT. That’s it?? And we had to literally beg that
piece of sh*t airline. Unbelievable!!
This administration should get some compliments for their efforts at upgrading the infrastructure of Dominica. But on this they get a big fat “F”. It was a misguided idea and total waste of money.
It is not easy navigating those mountains at night and safety is a priority. The pilots are now trying to approach from the sea rather than over the terrain.
The airport needed to be in a flatter area without any mountains in the near vicinity to contend with. And then there is the cloud cover problem which may arise, to contend with also.
If one of their planes crashed in DA, they would never hear the end of it.
What we really need is a straight road to the airport. Those roads are too winding, especially imperial Hwy. You feel sick by the time you get to the airport.
is there any flat land in da its a mountainous island
you sound like an idiot…..go educate yourself on aviation matters and come back again….
good news of the night landigs
LIAT made the announcement some fifteen years ago that they would be discontinuing their twin otter aircraft and increase their Dash Eight fleet to streamline maintenance cost. This decision at the time, meant that all flights would land and take off only at Melville Hall Airport in Marigot.
Since that decision was made, no major improvements were made to the Marigot road to accommodate increased traffic. It’s bad enough to drive at the edge of the sea during the day time with no visible barriers so now I can imagine what constant night driving will mean for our taxi men and women.
God bless all those who will soon be traveling more frequently on that road at night. Amen!!
…speaking from experience, ….I dread it!!
What are you two morons talking about? Isn’t there a project to upgrade the Roseau-Melville road ongoing right now?
Besides we in Dominica love to bitch about winding roads. We are an EXTREMELY mountainous country. That’s the country God gave us.
agreed with u tell them again
When the roads were originally constructed in the 1950s, they were deliberately built with many corners because vehicles at the time were equipped with small under-powered gear boxes. As a result, the corners were originally designed to give these gear-boxes and engines an opportunity to rest and regain momentum before continuing upward.
Today, the vehicles at home are far more powerful than their earlier counterparts. Hence, there is no practical need for all these corners.
The Chinese showed us that the nasty corner in Tareau that caused so many accidents over the years can be demolished and you can actually see the incoming vehicle before it’s on your front bumper.
The Trinidadian Engineers showed us that the gradient at Back Road/Bath Estate Area could be reduced and the road could accommodate two-lanes of traffic safely.
The Chinese showed us once more that the nasty corner in the Woodbridge Bay area in front the Coast Guard Base could be overcome with a small bridge or over pass just before the former Eric Bakery Building.
So who is the moron? You!! The roads can be better engineered to create safety and reduce the corners so that one can clearly see incoming vehicles from the opposite direction.
I drive on mountainous roads all the time, and they are nothing like what we have at home.
I love my country , Dominica, too and that is why I live here but that does not make that road any less of a nightmare.
While I welcome the initiative, I’d like to see at least one straight flight from Dominica to St. Lucia. I am getting sick and tired of having to leave Dominica at 7am only to arrive in St. Lucia after 4 /5 pm. This is ridiculous to spend your entire day either in Antigua or Barbados airport. Get it right LIAT, please.
Some folks think that an international airport is synonymous with direct flights. It is not. As much as I would like an international airport for D/A, can we sustain direct flights from Los Angeles, Miami, Atlanta, New York, London and Paris, for example, daily? Or even weekly? How many Dominicans travel from these cities daily/weekly? How many airlines provide direct flights to St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenada and even Antigua, without landing in Puerto Rico or St. Thomas?
If you travel to New Jersey from Orlando on Delta, American Airlines or Jetblue, you may have to stop over in North Carolina or Atlanta. Some flights may be direct but most are not. It all depends on the frequency of travel. Planes do not take off and land empty. Scheduled flights must be economical and sustainable.
Success of night landing can’t be measured in terms of profit for the government and how much is spent staffing the airport for one flight. First of all,this is just a start. More will be added. But think of success in terms of taxi fares, hotel occupancy, restaurant meals sold, sale of souvenirs,tour guide tips and sale of local produce by our farmers and small manufacturers. Every step is important, no matter how small. If you can’t help solve Dominica’s problems, then you are part of the problem.
Let’s get to work!! Congratulations!!
Yes but night landing is not safe AT ALL in Melville Hall Airport. The aircraft comes in by the sea, at nights they will not fly over the mountain. Can you imagine for some reason an aircraft has to go back up and circle to try landing again (which happens)? This is just impossible. All that is infront of them is a mountain, so definitely they will go into the mountain. Both ends of the air strip is supposed to be clear, already is a short strip. Think about that, we cannot handle this catastrophe.
Take a trip and come watch the landing for yourself then talk.
Touch down is at the far end of the runway closer to the sea. Any decision to abort landing is or should be made before touch down. There are thousands of feet between the sea and the mountain and I am sure that the engineers and aviation experts took all that into consideration. Some folks think that PM Skerrit and Minister Blackmore bone-headedly designed that project. Small planes land on highways. This runway is thousands of feet. Planes approach from the end, not the middle or last quarter. I understand the concerns of the weak and faint-hearted, but aviation on a whole is risky and tough business.
Experience is the greatest teacher in life. You’re asking us to trust the engineers and aviation experts. After the upgrades were completed, one was led to believe that the upgrades complied with all aviation requirements. Then a report was issued by the E.C.C.A detailing what needed to be done before night landing could be implemented. So why should I believe them now?
Stop being so NEGATIVE
Well said Sout man, nuff respect to dat
Thanks but no thanks….. As long as the plan landing afer 3:30pm I am not interested.
now that’s a realistic and solid view of the situation;, we need to start being real. let’s stop this political mumbo jumbo with Dominica, we are exposing ourselves to the chinese xploitation that is slowly freeging us up.Stop parroting one and all.Wake up Dominicans.
Soutman well said.
Your comparison of a lay-over in Atlanta from Orlando is misleading compared to the Melville Hall Airport scenario. A traveler changing planes in one of these cities boards another flight that same night with the opportunity of arriving home that very same night.
For many years, Dominica did not have that option. If you were traveling from North America and you landed in Antigua after 5pm you had to overnight in a hotel i.e., an additional expense plus taxi fare and food.
That’s why I said goodbye to LIAT and their foolishness years ago. No Barbados either. The lay-over in San Juan is fine with me because I usually arrive home the same day.
You missed the point smarty pants. The point is that an international airport does not necessarily prevent a stop-over/ “lay-over” in another state or country. Heading to the 13th busiest international airport in the USA (Newark International in New Jersey from the 12th busiest (Orlando International), one may still have to “lay-over” in the busiest airport in the USA, Hartsfield Jackson International Airport in Atlanta or in North Carolina or another state, depending on the airline.
So having an international airport in Dominica does not prevent a stop-over/ “lay-over” in Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, St. Martin or Antigua, simply because the 200+ passengers are not all headed to Dominica. What is deceptive about that comparison?
WAY PAPA< GUD FOR D COUNTRY BUT LIAT PLZ BE CONSIDERATE N TRY STICKING TO D SCHEDULE< PLZ B CONSIDERATE
CONGRATULATION DA FOR NIGHT LANDING. GOOD LUCK. NOTHING HAPPENS BEFORE
THE RIGHT TIME
I have been hearing that for a year now.
What for me is even better news than night landing that will be taking place on July 6th, is the return of the 9:45am flight from Antigua. Imagine since last year, Liat discontinued that flight and persons travelling from the Leeward Islands would have to overnight in Antigua if they wanted to get to Dominica in the mornings or spend all day sitting in the Antigua departure lounge waiting to get on one of the afternoon flights. I could not understand the rationale for discontinuing the mid-morning flight from Antigua and having 2 flights in the early morning less than 1 hour apart and similarly 2 flights in the afternoon less than 1 hour apart as well. Then all through the day there is zero traffic from Antigua. It appears now that good sense has prevailed and Dominica can once again see the 4 scheduled flights staggered during the day. The travelling public welcomes that.
Economics my people Economics. How many workers will be employed for the night flight? How much will be paid to them to service each flight? How much money will Dominica make per night flight? Subtract the amount to be made for each night flight from the amount paid to the workers to service one night flight per day. That is how we would know if that initiative will be profitable or not. Explore the feasibility of an international airport, where travelers would land straight into Dominica from any country. Think of the increased benefits with the marketing of our produce, especially more reliable, faster movements of our fresh agricultural produce, flowers, etc. to the outside markets as a result of an international airport. Dominica would not have to rely on anything or anybody originating from first Antigua or Barbados. Food for thought. Vision. Foresight. Thinking of middle and long-Term sustainable development.
With more positive market penetration, increased and faster movements to the external markets, more investment into agriculture, farmers and folks of all the rural communities and Dominica by extension would benefit greatly. Farmers would therefore have the urge to produce more knowing that their produce could reach the market faster and with less hassle. But as it would still appear Antigua and later Barbados would still receive the major share of any monies to be made through that night landing operations. Do not get me wrong. It is one step but we will still be 30 years back. My people we are in the 21st. century.
don’t you fund don’t you fund the international airport ? Economis,t that would be very nice
You’re an absolute… Economics? So some economics by helping the country move forward and open a business to employ people. That’s Economics.
international airport is what we should thrive for but this is a start
sensible comment
Great to hear night landing by Liat, will not have to spend overnight. Our money will be spent in D/M.
Almost an entire year after this huge hooplar in Dominica about night landing and Dominican’s singing praises? Well I can understand why DA is soooooo backward.
If being forward is to treat Caribbean Nationals the way that Jamaican woman was allegedly Finger F…….. at the air port then I rather to be in our position where we show respect to all if you think i am lieing just ask the Chines and the Haitians. Caricom integration?? NEVER!
BAJAN POWER: I TOTALLY AGREE WITH U…THEY PROBABLY TRYIN TO GIVE US COMPETITION DATS Y…
Birds of a feather flock together.
WA U MEAN BY DAT,, U SOUND SO IGNORANT!!
shut your trap!! what makes you think that your dry peace of land is better than our lush green island. FAG*T!!
Bajan go f4)l yourself with your dutty as* broken English. When you hear Dominicans commenting about their Country don’t freaking get involved. Backward.. Come where I am and I will show you backward!!! Moi fâche
I never realised Dominicans could be sooo ig………t. Wake up and smell the coffee people. There are sufficient international airports in the Caribbean for the time. Maybe in the next twenty years for Dominica.
y some people cant let the country move foward an stop their nonsence gzzzzzzzzzzzz. its about time we have night landing in d/a ill have a later time to live st thomas to come home lol
That’s really great news Dominica on the rise soon all Dominicans will be migrating back home cause it’s the safest place to be right now and development is in process
really
YES!!!!!!! REALLY!!!!! Dominica is one of the safest place to be right now.
if so sure about your development why hide behind the curtain, but is some people you all folling not me
They have already included this in their schedule. I just booked a trip in july/august and there’s a 7:20pm arrival time into melvillehall. So this is not bogus. Also noticed all Liat flights lately have been sea landings…maybe in preparation for the night landings. Guess the pilots are getting used to the glide path.
Not me taking any night flight to dominica, HELL NO, no way, not LIAT nor anyone of them small plane, prefer to overnight where ever, them big jets having difficulties landing night time is develop countries you people mad traveling on LIAT during he day is scary far lest for night, this will not generate any extra money to the island , still have to pay for landing in Antigua any how you look at it Antigua is the one profiting
Dominica need an international airport not that thing in Melville Hall
And where are u again BVI…nuff said
IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO MENTAIN AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
I am in Dominica never live her nor forsake her, home is where my heart is and this place is none other than DOMINICA thank you
I agree with you on the point that Antigua is the one benefitting. However, landing anywhere at night is a risk. On Discovery Channel there is a list of the 10 most dangerous airports to include ST Barts ( where the approach is a down a hill over a road with cars driving) and my favorite SXM over the beach… So Melville Hall I not the worst.. A bit risky I agree but not the most dangerous.
You must be living under a rock or just too busy to post your none scence just read over your posted comment and check your brain before you open your A…… do you think the decision to have night landing is purely Liat decision? there is much more logistics and air line safety and people who are expert in that area always have their imput, have i said enough? some so called Dominicans regardless of where in this World they live or travel they hold stupidity very close to their heart and thats a dam shame but unfortunately it will never change.IF it was born a fool, grow up a fool travel and left Dominica it`s still a Dam fool. Take that B.V.I.ie BIG Vigiours Idiot.
Bro everybody entitled to their opinions. Even if you don’t share his opinion that doesn’t make the individual all the names you stated. Discussion is good for change!
Except the Bajan. Donkey have no right in horse race. When you hear Dominicans commenting keep your opinions to yourself!
BVI LIAT HAS VERY EXPERIENCE PILOTS
Dr Who
Agree to disagree, you need to check yourself before calling people me, to you Doct empty barrels makes the most noise and so are you, i am a Dominican by birth not by choice, nor by purchasing Dominica’s passport,and is entitle to my opinion like it or not, and to my knowledge Dominicans do not live in rocks/cages not in Dominica nor elsewhere
Dominicans do not speak and write that bad. Can you explain what you mean by “Calling people me? What the hell is this? Agree to diagree you`re not a born Dominican. Just check your diction you should be ashamed of yourself. I hope you can leave the B.V I. and travel to Dominica meet me at Cork street to have a smart Drink that might help you think straight. No had feelings B.V.I. LOVE YOU!
Do the Maths. 4 x daily flights from Antigua carrying (possibly) a maximum of 50 people (DASH
= 200 people. International airport with a runway for a 747 or 737 carrying 300+ people…errrr???
HELLO????
What’s the point? There are more Dominicans outside of Dominica than they are on the damn island!!! UNLESS by some miracle ‘everyone’ decided to come home at once where would the demand come from?
IF you can’t learn a lesson from GRENADA’s International airport you really shouldn’t chat about stuff you know little or nothing about. If we can’t entice a twin-otta airplane to land at Canefield don’t expect Branson to go land his VIRGINS, AA or BA to go land in Dominica for WHAT!???
KMT!!! You people should shut up!!!
Congrutulation DA on night landing. long time in the making. Dominica people try to see the big picture. Night landing is for all Dominicans not a chosen few. Years from now when the Labor Party is not in power we all will still be enjoying the NIGHT LANDING. BE POSITIVE!!!!! LOVE YOUR COUNTRY!!!!!
Pour un moment mois qwei se blackburn ki payou pour dire sa.
whats positive about that,by how much will the ticket price go down ,thats what u are not thinking about mahaut man its true u vote for him but answer that for me please
how economically will it be for Dominica government and the port authority to hire staff to work the night shifts for one flight? ?????
as economical as building an Int’l airport, hire staff, keep it open for one flight weekly from UK, or perhaps US
DA doing well man slowly but surely we getting somewhere… we just have to work together to make the progress work for us….
@ doctor love what is wrong with u? It is in dominicans interest the night landing, why can’t you all. Stop putting politics in everything. It’s about time we get night landing. If u don’t have anything. Constructive to say, then just don’t comment.
Well ,well! I understand ur concerns11 but the site is free to write what Andrew inc accepts as okay and would not cost them from defamaton etc. Imore than agree that everything need not be politicalized but the reality is politics is like salt is to food.Too much makes a bad meal right?But none the food taste bland. let’s all take it with a grain of SAL/SEL. let Doctor do his politicing you do your thing of non alignment (like u were a motor vehicle’s tires)
charlie sheen ur a hundred percent right ,and thats the biggest problem i have right now many people believe any time u say any thing which u believe is wrong u not for delevolpment ,
well said my pip, some of us tooo sensitive. tonnneerrr.
This is Gr8t news hope it materializes! ALL YOU THINK ANTIGUA AND LIAT FOOLISH!!!! it will begin only in Antigua for now, so that anyone from anywhere wishing not to overnight must come through Antigua. They will get all the money and luggage!!
Why the hate. LIAT is maintaining there dominance by funneling the night landing through their hub.
This very welcome news. Hope this will enable more passengers to connect direct same day, particularly those from N. America, put an end to unscheduled overnighting for those arriving from the U.K. and finally allow us to conduct business in Barbados with a same-day return. Slow as it may be, progress is progress.
get the info first ,there’s NO direct flights its not an international airport ,u still have to go antigua
No u should read and understand properly ! They said “connect” meaning being able to land and get a sure flight into d.ca the same day.. SMH
JULY 2015,IN TIME TO CARRY ILLEGAL VOTERS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD.
I think you should call yourself “doctor stupid” instead of doctor love
why have you gone to jail for jailbird? income tax evation? lol!You are calling Dr.Love stupid and urself jailbird what the difference? who is stupid going to jail or making things political that not need be?
.Look like you just woke up jailbird or just got released. no breakfast yet so the brain in an attack mood.
yea wondering i was in the jail cell next to you…i was the one keeping you up at night when you were saying you not guilty…you a an a== if you a taking an alias so literal…and yea i just wake up but i am alert enough to know that everything that come to dominica is not politically motivated. You and doctor stupid need to grow up and stop bringing politics into every thing good that happen to dominica..it is people like you all that keep the country back because you think if is not for party you will not do it…so kma and fo…dumb a… and no i did not go to jail but keep talking bull and i might just reach there…
I could not say it any better.
Thats so true Dr Stupid! You have my support on this one.
Doctor A**!!
@Doctor,I guess you doesn”t know the meaning on love,