LIAT to meet with pilots’ union

liatRegional airline, LIAT, is to meet with the pilots’ trade union LIALPA on Wednesday following the industrial action on Tuesday which left several passengers stranded throughout the regional network.

The airline reported only a limited number of flights were able to operate from Antigua, Barbados and Trinidad.

LIAT has indicated that it is willing to address any legitimate issues and has given a firm commitment that it will  meet with LIALPA on Wednesday, November 6 in an effort to discuss the union’s concerns.

“The company remains hopeful that good sense would prevail and that there will be a resumption of its services…” the airline said in a release.

Customers are reminded to contact the following numbers to reschedule their travel arrangements: from Antigua – 1-268-480-5582; toll free from the rest of the Caribbean – 1-888-844-5428 and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – 1-866-549-5428.

LIAT has expressed apologies to affected passengers and the general public for the inconvenience caused as a result of the disruption.

Meanwhile a video posted on social network, Facebook, shows a long line of passengers at LIAT’s counter at the Melville Hall Airport.

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11 Comments

  1. john bess
    November 7, 2013

    Liat ask skerro for money to solve all u worries,he seem to have enough money to waste all over !

  2. islandboi
    November 6, 2013

    I may get thumbs down for my comment,but its we the traveler who feels it.I honestly think government must really work on the effort into at least improving the airport for bigger planes to come in.
    When American Eagle was present I always got a same day flight,to reach Puerto Rico by 11am and DA by 2pm. This is my third attempt to fly home ever since American eagle pulled out,and it’s either I overnight in Miami,or the airline lands in Puerto Rico at midnight,then I fly into Dominica next day.(spending extra money)
    I attempted to bring a keyboard home this year to donate to my church,and when I arrived at the airport,I was informed I would have to leave the keyboard,because according to the airline agent,”due to the size of the aircraft going to your island and the length of the keyboard,we are unable to process your request”.Good thing my friend came along with me to the airport to take the keyboard back to his house till I returned back from Dominica.
    Don’t know again why I have to pay $857.00 to travel to Dominica.
    When booking a test fare/flight on the same date to
    St.Marten costs me $300+,
    Trinidad $500+,
    St.Lucia 400+,
    Antigua $600+.
    All these airports have International access and same day service from the US mainland.

    • Dominican4real
      November 7, 2013

      Thumbs up to you. We all have experienced this issue. I really loved American Eagle. It was no fuss no mess. I left Florida at 8:00 AM and was home in DA by 3:00 PM. It was the best.

  3. RubbishNews.da
    November 6, 2013

    Alas, the labour unions are adding to liat’s pain. If the pilots are dissatisfied they should seek employment else where. We in the caribbean have to wake up an realize gone are the days when u remain with an employer until retirement. If you dont like working conditions and pay, seek another opportunity.

    Stop hurting a company that is already deased.

    The unions need to stop and do what is right for the company.

    Liat have toooo many problems and the unions are a major part. Why too many staff in antigua , 1/2 are unnecessary, but because of unions Liat cant get rid of them.

    At the end of the day everyone pays the price. Everyone suffers. Plus we need young blood on that company at executive level.

    • NWO
      November 9, 2013

      You need to wake up and smell something, coffee, tea, or maybe intellect. A Trade union is for the protection of ITS MEMBERS. If a company is in-efficiently run, that has no forebearing on their proper treatment of their employees. now, ref your comment about pilots… Pilots, like you, are subject to labour and immigration laws everywhere. a pilot cannot pack his/her bags and run to seek employement in N America, Europe or elsewhere unless they qualify to work in that country. Many Liat pilots have endured hardship in this inept organization due to the fact that they have no choice but to stick it out as they posses no right to work outside this region, combined with large flying school loans to repay.
      The company is in-efficiently run, bottom line. Hence the reason certain PM’s refuse to invest in Liat until a total transformation has been done at upper level management. Skerrit should have thought about that before wasting Dominica’s tax payers hard earned money. I’ll leave you to pontificate on this.

  4. Thoughts
    November 6, 2013

    Last Wednesday there was no industrial action and we left the island 5 hours late. This is absolutely ridiculous and the rep at Melville Hall said LIAT’s only responsibility is to take us from point A to B. He further pointed out they are not responsible for missed connection because their website said to allow 3 hours between flights.

    I had to remind him that we all had over the 3 hour gap since we were schedule to depart at 9:40AM. How dare them count when you leave the island as opposed to when we were scheduled to depart? The nerve?

    All affected passengers need to put them on blast to spoil their reputation.

  5. Still Stranded...
    November 6, 2013

    It is absolutely ridiculous how Liat addresses situations like these…The lack of management, empathy, courtesy, and most importantly CUSTOMER SERVICE, that is displayed by some of their staff is totally mind-boggling…It is an irrevocable fact that I will NEVER travel with Liat again and I will also encourage my family and friends to do so as well…On a more positive note, I would like to single out one Liat employee at the Melvin Hall airport…the name on his ID said Lewis (didn’t get the last name)…This young man was the only individual who provided any type of customer service to over 100 disgruntled, irate passengers. I was stranded at Melvin Hall for 14hrs before I had to go back to Laplaine @9:00pm last night…this young man solely assisted every single one of us yesterday without remorse or hesitation and I think he should be recognized for displaying such exemplary customer service!!!!

  6. grell
    November 6, 2013

    liat is a waste,poor the people of the caribbean,needs a new place to operate,antigua should not be the hub,st.vincent should be the new hub.liat is cursed in antigua.

    • Negbawi
      November 6, 2013

      Lol…explain

  7. Anonymous
    November 6, 2013

    That’s why we need our airline. We had an airline but it went under when Skerrit got in office. Skerrit killing everything that’s good and promote everything that’s bad.

    • dominicana
      November 6, 2013

      Never thought i would ever hear something so ignorant. Why did you ever waste your time and comment? It rains you blame Skerritt, the sun hot you blame Skerritt, you cannot poopoo you blame Skerritt. Why dont you just stick to what the topic is or else just read and dont write..chupesssssssss

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