Dominica News Online (DNO) has been reliably informed that due to the inclement weather affecting the island at this time, the runway at the Douglas-Charles Airport is being intermittently closed.
This action was taken for the sake of the safety of aircraft and passengers and is affecting travelers coming into the island.
A source who chose to remain anonymous told DNO on Thursday that the “wind is too high and there is too much rain.”
The source made it clear that the airport itself is not closed, just the runway “and then when the wind drops or there is no rain and the visibility has improved, then the runway is reopened.”
The source also pointed out that most times persons say that it’s the airport that is closed, but it’s not really the airport, “it’s the runway due to the weather system.”
The source could not say when the runway will reopen.
“It’s not something we can say because we have no control over the weather,” he noted, adding that at this point because of the high winds the runway remains closed
“If the wind drops in the next 15 minutes we will reopen the runway,” the source said.
DNO was also told that one WinAir flight landed at the airport at about 9:00 am and left soon after, but no LIAT flights have landed so far.
The source explained that it’s easier for flights that are already on the ground to depart than if the flight is actually landing.
DNO has learnt that several travelers coming to Dominica are presently stranded in different parts of the Caribbean due to the situation at the airport.
A workshop by the Dominica Council of Women, in collaboration with the Barbados-based Caribbean Police Development Center, scheduled for Thursday was canceled since overseas participants could not get into the island.
Does anybody know why they chose to build the airport in Marigot? It was all politics. Somebody wanted it in their backyard. Eh heh..
Where there is no vision, the people perish! The illegal rogues posing as government with a prime mistake, knew that this area is not suitable for an airport and should try developing another area for an airport instead of wasting monies by building a wall in the ocean and against a river! The airport is wrongly located, in a valley beneath mountains,on a river bed and on the Atlantic Ocean where there are usually strong high winds! Because of their dirty partisan politricks, they refused to continue with the plans of the former government of building a jet landing airport!
The runway is closed due to inclement weather condition and you guys have so much negative remarks. For God’s sake runways close all over or flights are re-routed for the safety of passengers. An international airport is not going to make anything better you bunch of idiots. Politics have most of you guys blinded and acting like donkeys.
Look at the bright side and see the mercy of God! This airstrip in between mountains and Valley, rocks and stones; and the good Lord has been merciful to us each time a bird touch down without incident. I’m thankful for a little strip where these birds could land safely. Dominica is a miracle. We live where some creatures dare to live.
A teenage girl wrote: “Take each day at a time and try to enjoy each moment with the good and the bad. For who knows, how long one has left of his/her life.”
There is a story to this.
If we do that, we will not lay the blame on the government or any other person. We will accept what is the inevitable. So is the weather.
Sorry to know that the airport runway is (was) closed. Be patient and cheer up Dominica residents. It is mother nature doing her thing. Note that it is not “father nature”. In this age, time to change it to father nature.
We, in Ontario especially Toronto had extremely high winds over 100 k all day and night. It even affected vehicles driving on the roads/streets. There was power outage in some areas. One wonders where such high winds originated from.
Today was a better day. Coming in tonight, electricity went off. Some street lights were inoperable. This was also scary for drivers and pedestrians. I am indoors now and have no idea if the street lights in this area are now operable. They may be fixed tonight in time for rush hour traffic in the morning.
All countries have their share of rain and wind. We simply have to put up with it without laying the blame on the government or whatever else. Broadminded people will comprehend that.
Looking at that image of our airport makes me feel embarrassed.
Inclement whether can close the most sophisticated airport or runways etc. This is by no means saying that DA need a runway that can accommodate long range flights.
Ground stoppage?? Happens when there is bad weather in the states and I’m sure around the world. Safety first.
And they have night landing there too papa. That’s how I will be landing soon in DA. I am so scared.
one thing I can agree with is that if there was not a major problem there would not be all this talk
The runway was never closed, airlines were landing. LIAT did not land
labour working funny people don’t love themselves their handsome pm comes first
No one can see the future. The weather and situation could be worst.
I reside in Toronto and it is still winter. Thank God, so far, it has not been bad although the Farmer’s Almanac stated we would have a very bad winter. Imagine all of February there was no snow to present. It is unusual. The weather could change.
Some human beings lack appreciation. We must thank God for small mercies which are great in themselves. Out of every good and bad, whichever way we look at it, something good eventually comes out of it. I could further elaborate.
Our Lord Jesus Christ said, “In all things give God thanks and praise.” For human beings it could be difficult. Nevertheless Our Lord has commanded it. So after all is said and done, this is what we must do.
Always be positive; keep a positive mind and we will be happier and more peaceful people.
Don’t worry! Be happy!
Is this the renovated airport? It looks like a marijuana stripe in Jamaica. Sorry guys I am just disappointed with Dominica\’s development.
Well, go develop somewhere else and keep complaining about what is happening in your own country. That should help!!
have u been there for pick up or delivery?
You doe seeing the country is upside down back to front!! Dominica is going too get a SERIOUS SLAPE FROM THE ALMIGHTY GOD!! DOMINICA IS CURSTE!
You will not be excluded for you are helping it along with your negativism and not genuine, fervent prayers.
Do not think for a moment that God will not hold those as you accountable.
Your attitude is not one who loves his/her country, want what is good for it and would like to see it progress. You lack patriotism.
He (God) might “slape” u instead for your “curste” brain.
Can anyone tell me at what time they decided to close the runway. ??
Notice of the closure should read “”Thats Where Skerrit and his Classical Fools Dumped So Many Millions””..The amount of money that have been wasted by this regime is staggering…Yet still a man with a Punjab PhD,gives people election paraphernalia reading “”LEADERSHIP IS EVERYTHING”””,,knowing fully well that he has been,and will forever be Dominicas WORST leader…Give me honourable Linton everyday..I can see,and know that he loves Dominica. I wish that i could say the same for Skerrit,the man who said so many nice things to us about Monfared…SKERRIT MUST GO!SKERRIT MUST GO!SKERRIT MUST GO!..He is a terrible leader..He just cant do the job!
http://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/03/08/university-michigan-basketball-plane-crash/98914844/
Obviously is not Dominica’s airport alone that is affected.
Not ‘several’ stranded passengers, there is an airport full of them. If ever there was a case for an international airport with a better runway and capacity for bigger aircraft to take-off and land, it is taking place right now. So many travellers are missing international connections because of this. It’s time to get serious about our air access.
So it seems like an international airport can control the weather
Damn good comment. Ping. And for those getting political, make sure your leader erect a massive windbreaker in front of the airport!!
Stop wasting CBI money to catch votes..CBI will not last for ever.This EVIL ROGUISH DLP,has tainted it too much by selling and/or giving criminals our passport…Build a doggone International airport with OUR CBI money,,AND PUT DOMINICANS TO WORK….You all empty
barrels..We dont need any of Skerrits friend from Nevis or St Kitts to discuss international airport with..So much money was dumped into Melvillehall by those clown,nobrainers and fantastic idiots,yet still when someone pours a glass of water in Melvillehall airport close.You get that when dummies rule over people..WHERE THE WICKED RULE,THE PEOPLE MOURN….Skerrit Must Go!!!Skerrit Must Go!!!Skerrit Must Go!!!
It really ain’t matter because nobody comes here
Only the criminals who want to evade justice from the country they belong .
Amen, Monfared came to hide here. Who aided and abetted him?
I don’t get it. The strip is closed which means flights cannot land and cannot take off, but the airport is not closed? So if the airport not closed is only the strip that closed, why not land the plane in the sky like the hospital and airport Skerrit and Monfared said we had? Bunch of joker!!! It’s like saying is just my foot that sick but I in perfect health
Last time I was in Miami, the runways were all closed for an hour and a half due to lightning. But the terminal was fully operational. Stop running ur mouth on things u don’t understand
Is this a new reality? The airport is closed because of bad weather. Why try to say that it is the runway that is closed. Could any one tell me which part of the world you can find an airport without a runway? It is the runway that makes the area an airport. DNO should remove this article, it makes no sense .
Ya better safe than sorry in this case however, the executive for this facility need more balls when it comes to speaking about issues to the Media,
I doh even get voucher and I stuck since Tuesday lol
Who u want the voucher from GOD? Because he sent the bad weather.
What’s the use of an airport if the runway is closed? If the runway is closed then the airport is also. It’s time to move from this airport. Same old same old. Straight up we need an international airport, this will continue to happen. Dominica is sun, rain and wind.
We will put the international airport at the top of morne diabe lotin ..to avoid rough sea and over flowing rivers ..Dominica is sorounded by rivers and the ocean is everywhere ..so tell me how we avoiding that ? All tou concerned about international airport ..where the hotels to put people ?
Oh the wind wouldn’t affect the international airport too. Duminicans boy lol
It is good for us all cause we all agree that we don’t need a Jet airport not before 30yrs. Dominican’s are too laid back in this modern world
Um ok people relax. International airport or not inclement weather is inclement weather. Too much rain, too much wind..better safe than sorry. Because if flights were allowed to land and something happened, the talk would be that they should have closed the airport. That is something no man has control over. Even in the international airports in the larger countries, during winter if the wind is too strong and visibility is limited flights are grounded. We have to be reasonable sometimes man.
The conditions we are experiencing will not close an international airport.
Agreed 1000%. we cannot fix stupid. Just to say something Ridiculos, to confirm how Clever some of us are, only in Dominica. I reading Dno piece on the weather, and i swear they were saying that The “Source, Source, source, source, Smfh. i understand the nature and reason for using the term the Source, is to cover one ####, and some times if it turns out to be fake News, but its obvious that inclement weather such as what we`re experiencing will hamper normal operation at the Airport. We have become so inclined to be ploitically correct, its a silly endevour. The Source opinion.
with our leaders and his millions, look at the condition of that place we calling airport/airstrip.. weather or no weather this is a downright disgrace and regional embarrassment.
Better safe than sorry!
Better to have an international airport.
In that case why use Melville hall at all? take a ferry to Guadeloupe or Martinique and fly from there. I have given up on Melville hall and liat, driving up there all the way from town and finding that the plane is either late, cancelled and less than helpful staff.
All flights should be diverted to the state palace. A lot of money went into this useless. Project, and visibility is very clear there,for landing.
I agree. Lord help Dominica
Really? That’s what you have to say? smh
The foolish Dominicans who continue to support this lazy government wasting millions of dollars at this death trap called Melville Hall should find out which other airport closes so often in the Caribbean because of rain.
The point is that, the location of the Melville Hall airport is bad. Its that simple! The airport is buried in a river valley with a towering mountain to the west that is 80% of the time covered under cloud hence hindering visibility of landing from the western end. The eastern end of the runway is usually soaked in sea water from the surges of the Atlantic Ocean!!!
I do hope that when Lennox Honychurch is documenting the history of this dump, he will find merit in this governments’ decision to waste so much money on this crap called Melville Hall airport rather than investing or at least begin the process of building the international airport.
Lets see lennox build and international airport .if he ever comes in power..all you think its easy as abc ..
where to put the airport in ur yard
silly unreasonable ppl nva see smh
Yes, the revised airport location proposed by the UWP government, for which land had been purchased, would have had a different approach, and hence, the winds would not have been that great an issue. LIAT has bent over backward trying to carry out night flights into Dominica, only to end up losing money on so many legs by not being able to land. This is such a common occurrence, that Dominicans should stop booking night flights into Melville Hall. Sorry Douglas. Sorry Charles. This windy weather only makes it worse. On another note, could this be one of the effects of climate change? Where did this weather come from in March?
You mean State Malice
LIAT flights never land so no surprise there then. Every other effort is made by other airlines but LIAT today have left passengers stranded in Barbados since yesterday with a voucher for US$12 only and no accommodation. BRING ON THE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT!
Oh the wind wouldn’t affect the international airport too. Duminicans boy lol
Not with a different , longer approach
Remember Skeritt took tax payers money and give it to LIAT and what did we get nothing, So what about the land that workers bought between Melville Hall and Woodford Hill we have the land just build the d–m airport
D airport close so stop ur bull stupes. Talking bout runway, the runway more the airport than the building.
So why are you talking like this people all over is reading this you need to stop. That not nice.
So what is the difference? The point is that planes cannot land there because the runway is inadequate.