Director of Tourism and CEO of the Discover Dominica Authority Colin Piper has reacted to an announcement by Regional Airline LIAT that it will no longer be making flights available between Guadeloupe and Dominica.
The company has revealed that flights between the two islands will end on March 2.
LIAT said the decision was made “to achieve greater profitability and improve efficiency.”
“As it relates to the announcement to cut certain flights and more specifically the Pointe-a-Pitre to Dominica and Dominica to Pointe-a-Pitre flight which happens three times weekly, what we can say is that we’re making every effort to ensure that coverage to Pointe-a-Pitre still occurs,” Piper told members of the media on Friday.
He stated that individuals coming into Dominica still have access to the Ferry (L’Express des Isles) as well as Air Antilles.
“So what I wish to indicate is that on the bright side what we’re looking at is that from Antigua Flight 523 which used to stop in Pointe-a-Pitre will now be coming direct to Dominica, still with service seven times daily. And also Flight 364 departing Dominica which would have stopped in Pointe-a-Pitre will now go directly to Antigua,” he said.
According to Piper, advantages still exist despite LIAT’s announcement.
“So the advantage to that really and truly is that LIAT now having cut some of the time out of its busy schedule, the on-time arrival and departure schedule should be better for Dominica. We also have access to Pointe-a-Pitre occurring on the Ferry with improved service starting I believe March 12, so there will be more information coming from there,” Piper stated.
He said hopefully sometime soon, Tourism authorities will be discussing additional information as it relates to Air Antilles Airlines and their service into Pointe-a-Pitre.
So what if i cant take the ferry? for whatever reason, say the time it takes? but i have a mortal fear of the small planes? i think other airlines need to come in and blow LIAT away.
In all honesty the trip from Guadeloupe to Dominica is so short it probably cost more in full to land and take off so one can understand that. And if that results in flights arriving and departing o time, and more importantly (with luggage too) then indeed that’s a bonus. We all know Antigua and Barbados try to keep you there longer than you need to so you can spend more money with them. However I do not know how much it cost to lease a plane, but for $8 million, can’t we start? Even with one plane? then we can build it to more?
that what you have to say. unimpressive
Piper reacts. That’s the problem, right there. We need someone who is ahead of the game.
Too true.
Thats all he can do in this instance. thats all any of us can do here in this instance except the PM who invested millions in the company.
Is it that you do not know what to say?
Go Winair every time! Reliable on time and safe. LIAT Leave Island at any time, stupes!
According to Joe Biden, that is some malarkey if I’ve ever heard some !
This administration of Roosevelt Skerritt is once again showing how myopic and incompetent it is.He gives List $8 million of taxpayer money for what? Now List disrespects Dominica,the government has had all these years to figure out something permanent and reliable,but alas, it’s a pipe dream to expect good results from this government.Mr Piper,we understand that you are singing for your supper, because of the position you occupy,but no matter how you spin it to make it look positive,you sound hollow.
what is the average weekly passenger load factor of LIAT for Dominica? i hope this is not a state secret but it will tell us a lot about how viable a big jet airport is for us right now. i would really like to know that.
Guadeloupe is just 1 stop.
Its not the itinerary of all fights to and from the Island.
This is actually good news for “Dominicans to avoid delays and have flights straight to DA from Antigua. Guadeloupe is a French protectorate (colony) they are not like other Caribbean countries which are independent, a lot of decisions from Guadeloupe are based on policies from France. Hopefully she people paid attention in social studies, I’m not sure they teach that anymore!
If the lazy people on the Island can start exporting to other Islands then the airlines won’t need people alone to fill seats but can ship light cargo from Dominica to other Islands which is actually much more profitable than transporting only people!
You self man are a waste of time. You not giving value for the money we are paying you at all. You need to go!
For you !r. Piper to justify why LIAT is cutting such an important link for DOM/PTP is sinful. You should step down.
Sounds like sour grapes, Piper. In any case changes like that by LIAT are inevitable. If we want LIAT to be profitable then we have to let them eliminate the less profitable routes. Moral of this story – Be careful what you ask for.
Time for Dominica to buy it own plane , train its own pilot ,and offer its own airline service ,Why can’t we , after all our pass ports are being printed faster than they can get owners.
And it’s a lucative business acccording to the Boss.
Mr piper your P.M had a big FET when he introduced night landing at Melville hall. There should be no problem sir!
Lack of proper planning but this government is our fall!
God bless the wise!!!!
M. Piper as head of Tourism you have the nerve to justify loosing a route. Listen to yourself man you are hoping that that air Antilles take up this route. If you have any pride and dignity left, step down.
We invest in LIAT and we should be consulted prior such a move.
Well according to piper chou poul to those who want to fly to guada
Is that correct? 7 flights daily to Dominica from Antigua? Do we really have planes flying full on these flights? If not, LIAT needs to reduce the number and fly fuller flights so it can be profitable.
Well spotted. that is a mistake. It should read daily, seven times a week.
That;s very incorrect. There are only THREE LIAT flights from/to Antigua on a daily basis.
But Mr. is always talking some crap in anyway! All the other regional destinations showing good growth in their arrivals as well as expenditure per visitor while Dominica continues to saunter in the doldrums!!!
We are simply not ready for tourism in Dominica.
I guess some people just feel like they must comment. Sometimes its best to just keep your mouth shut
The Kempinski is scheduled to come on stream next year, Alick Lawrence building his Silver Sands with even more rooms, Skerrit saying they will finish the Moroccan hotel soon. How are all the visitors expected to get to Dominica. liat can not do that. Remember, people have limited vacation and can chose to go somewhere more convenient. I would like mr. Piper to address that. That is far more important than spending so much time arguing about carnival once a year.
People on this island need to wake up. Tourists aren’t flocking here. It is too expensive and too difficult. And then there is the increased crime situation.
Piper, it seems to me you will once again um to Nevis, to get help to fly people in and out of Dominica as you did two years ago. What happen man the Nevis originated air line has not start flying yet?
It is people like you who detested the building of an International Airport in Dominica “because Barbados and Antigua have one already.”
Let me see how Barbados, Trinidad, Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Vincent, and St. Kitts International Airports are going to help Dominica. Maybe in one week LIAT will drop Dominica too. And I will be a happy man when that happens.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah!
What we wish for that’s what we usually get, the Wades said traveling by ferry is better for Dominica. How backward is that
In the meantime,Skerrit,the blind bat keeps on wasting money and soon before the next election,he will be teelling his fools that he has an international airport in his back pocket.
Oh, yes!
Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhahaahha!
He going to tell them last election when he went to China to picket it up it was too large to hold in his pocket, but now the Chines cut it down
You really are not dealing from a full deck are you?
Lord,it seems like soon our families overseas will. Kt be able to come and visit.
Look like LIAT will just cut off Dominica.
well i quess people will have to go go guadeloupe and tKe the ferry to Dominica.
Well just build a bridge and peop,e will walk
Why you don not Stand as an MP and eventually be PM so you can do you country justice economically and financially
You think you know it all .
AlL the Labourite’s in D/ca should be very, very happy that LIAT has cut on it’s flight to and from Point-a- Pitre to D/ca so that they could catch the ferry, however they will be much happier now that st. Vincent is opening it’s INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT while Ralph Convolve advice them against the building of an International Airport so they should be very happy about that Good GOVENANCE hele hurray for D/ca CORUPT LABOURITES AND THEIR GOVERNMENT
Man I SUPPORT U 100%+ what a backward thinking nation St. Vincent and the rest of the world is surly LAUGHING at Doome IN CAN
piper why dont u tell skerrit to ask them to give back the eight million
Mr Piper there are no advantages to losing access to Dominica. Call a spade Sir. LIAT is disrespectful
That’s what Dominica put monies into liat for. Now they laughing !!
Guadeloupe is just 1 stop. Its not the itinerary of all fights to and from the Island. One of these things have nothing to do with the other. this is actually good news for “Dominicans to avoid delays and have flights straight to DA from Antigua. Guadeloupe is a French protectorate (colony) they are not like other Caribbean countries which are independent, a lot of decisions from Guadeloupe are based on policies from France. Hopefully she people paid attention in social studies, I’m not sure they teach that anymore!