ROSEAU, Dominica, CMC – St. Lucia’s Tourism Minister Allan Chastenet says the regional airline LIAT needs to say why it is charging high fares to travel across the Caribbean.
Chastanet is also critical of the Antigua-based Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) for its stringent measures which he said were stifling the growth of small airlines in the region.
“ECCA is an impediment. When one considers a region that is so dependent on airlift and there are no small airlines operating, especially in light of the prices LIAT is charging, then I think it is un-economical and the uneconomical part is that it is over regulated.”
LIAT IS VERY COSTLY AND I THINK THEY SHOULD BRING THEY PRICES DOWN.NEVER HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THEM FOR MY LOGGAGE.BUT THE MAIN PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THEM IS THAT THEY FIGHT ALWAYS DELAY.THEY NEVER ON TIME
travelled liate- Barbadous – Guyana – no one had their cases for a week every flight full advised too full with passagers to take our cases paid High price for me one case one one walk on piece…as th) ey knew we would get no case – why didnt they tell me only took 7lb bag onto plan medication of htransit only in bag – the rest in case(lots of meds ) treated badly by staff they couldnt del case to destination – told to remote- I had to wait 6 days for it needed to delay destination . Liate are crap they need competion – they take passports etc..no smile no good morning nothing when telling them of the inconvience I was told – ITS A TEST OF YOUR PATIENTS…I didnt reply my partner would have been waiting for my release from jail!!!.
LIAT will never get my money ! I went home for one month and unfortunately traveled Liat. Made a stop in ANTIGUA and that was the last time i saw my 2 50lbs luagges. Them ppl in Liat office watch me and give me $50ec for my 2 luagges and said they will get back to me. If LIAT ever get my money again LOOK OUT HELL IS NOW A ICEPOP.
LIAT needs competition, the only reason they can do theses things is because they know ppl dont really have a choice. Have you ever tried to get service at a LIAT desk. Lord theses ppl do as if u begging them and not paying your money. Then go to anyother airline and compare the service. Night and day difference.
God help those of us who dont have a choice but to fly on Luggage In Another Terminal also known as LIAT
It is OBVIOUS why LIAT is charging more: BECAUSE THEY CAN
Over the last few years they cannibalized up pilots from other airlines; and eventually their routes
If Dominica doesn’t like it, then Dominica needs to diligently finish up its airport; then vigorously negotiate more airlines to make Dominica a destination!
The problem here is mathematical: The one with the most leverage always gets the best deal!
BADBREAKNY is talking crap here, you sound like someone who never read the terms and conditions of the Airline when you travel. LIAT would not miss you and would feel anyway if you hate it. That will make more space for me, my things and bags never gone missing. Dominicans just like to travel too damn heavy , we fill our bags until they burst, sometimes LIAT people have to try and tape and secure bags because they soo full. LIAT IS HERE TO STAY? WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT.
Antigua is Dominicans place of refuge, don’t bad talk Antigua, if all you had an international airport then , you would have options, LIAT IS TRYING ITS BEST;
LIAT ALL THE WAY.
The guy who said that things get stolen from his bag at intransit points is a liar, how can someone pin point your bag all the time ur travelling and remove things, don’t you know that security check your bags after checking under a scanner to see if you have hazardous items? certain RUM, matches are not permitted in bags and must be removed and if you travelling with cell phones, who the hell would put a cell pone , wallet and jewellry in a checked bag? tharts crazy.
I urge all Dominicans to read and understand the terms and conditions of travel on the LIAT WEBSITE and stop forming the fool, you making ANTIGUANS LAUGH AT YOU GUYS.
I agree with thunder horse, too many Dominicans travel with provisions on the Aircraft like if LIAT is a cargo plane, Caribbean Star never accept those things as checked luggage, you had to send it as cargo, I’m gratefull for LIAT? NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH THEM. ONTIME FLIGHTS, EXCELLENT PILOTS, COURTEOUS AGENTS, BAGGAGE ALWAYS REACH ONTIME. In my ratings, I rate LIAT number 1 regional carrier in the world.
What Dominicans need to realise is the more you bad talk LIAT, IS THE MORE YOU TURN TOURISTS AWAY FROM YOUR ISLAND, I heard a tourist say that Dominicans are thieves and liars now do you believe that, LIAT is operated by caribbean people and if Dominicans are caribbean people, then we are no different; just check yall attitude online, IT STINKS
On Time Flights…….It must be your first time traveling on Liat (Leaving Island Any Time). Liat should have gone out of the business instead of those Governments saving their tail. Maybe next time you travel try leaving the Caribbean and maybe you will understand the concept of customer service. Yes, there are always good people in every organisation, but LIAT as a company is terrible.
“I urge all Dominicans to read and understand the terms and conditions of travel on the LIAT WEBSITE and stop forming the fool, you making ANTIGUANS LAUGH AT YOU GUYS.” You are right…there should be a disclaimer added…Travel at your own risk…..sign here X.
It is said we Dominicans are alot of things….proud is one of those things. We have never been people to sit and take crap from anyone. So who care what Antiguans think! Why should we accept something that is not right.
With regards to the comment about D/cans over packaging….As long as the over weight fee is paid it is not anybody’s business. I paid my money I can pack two rocks if I want.
For all these foolish comments on DNO concerning LIAT, I don’t think Dominicans know about Air Travel, thats why they will always laugh at us at all Airports when we make senseless noise at the LIAT counter for nothing.
To all the LIAT HATERS out there, take it or leave it, if you can’t take LIAT use the ferry service or the Bannana Boat and leave LIAT for the the rest of the region, what the heck, Dominica Government is not a share holder.
And please, those provisions should never be placed on an Aircraft, that is too country and poor people’s habits, send them on the boat, LIAT cannot take those fruits , jays products that create an odour and makes people sick. Face it, you guys use it as a CARGO PLANE.
i YOU WANNA TRAVEL WITH YOUR BANNANA BOXES AND CITRUS, USE THE BOAT AND LET US PUT OUR BAGS ONBOARD. LIAT IS A PASSENGER AIRCRAFT ? NOT GEESE.
It was mentioned that taxes are too blame for high cost. Why is it that the Eagle’s tickets are cheaper and they land in alot of the places Liat also operates in and out of?
liat deffender………..I have read, as many have regarding Liat’s bag restriction. Just like many, they have traveled and experienced it too. This is why many of us are of the opinion that Liat SUCKS!!! Again, no customer service at all. Considering you know so much about Liat can you explain to me why I had to pay 100usd when I traveled to Dominica from Barbados on a straight flight and was without my bags for 2 days. So I paid the over weight charge and was still without my bags 2 days later. No effort was made by Liat to apologies to me or anyone else in the same situation. No effort was made to get us our bags at least by the next day. My over weight charge and thousands more is almost a second ticket…put my bags in a seat I just bought for 100usd.
Everyone understands the high cost of fuel these days, but be reasonable. Yes, taxes to play a part in ticket cost, but Liat can afford to drop its prices by at least 100ecd and be ok. I wonder what was Liat’s financial statement last year. Did they make a profit or loss. Again, if I can I will avoid Liat at all cost….AA
@THUNDER HORSE YOU MUST BE WORKING FOR LIAT OR SOMETHING… YOU ARE CRAZY!
I USED TO WORK AT MELVILLE HALL AIRPORT FOR SOME YEARS AND I CAN TELL YOU FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE THAT LOST BAGS FROM ANTIGUA IN MOST OR EVEN ALL CASES WERE PROPERLY LABELED. MANY TIMES BAGS CAME WITH NO LOCKS OR CLEARLY RAMSAKED. I REMEMBER SEVERAL PEOPLE COMING TO THE AIRPORT TO CLAIM PACKAGES AND IT TOOK WEEKS FOR THE PEOPLE IN ANTIGUA TO “FIND” THE PACKAGES WHEN THEY WERE OPENED THINGS WERE MISSING. THE CUSTOMS IN ANTIGUA ACTUALLY CHOSE WHAT THEY WANTED TO LIVE IN THE BOXES LOL. TRUST ME STOP PUTING YOUR HAND IN FIRE WHEN THESE PPL IN HERE ARE TALKING OUT OF EXPERIENCE. AND LIAT IS OVERCHARGING PEOPLE.. GIVE ME A BREAK!!
Mr Skerrit take note your political comrade and personal friend Mr Ralph Gonsalves is building the new Argyle International Airport in St Vincent & Grenadines to be completed in March 2012.
Dominica will be the last Caribbean island without an International Airport after March 2012 according to the ECCB Governor.
ECCB GOVERNOR APPLAUDS ARGYLE AIRPORT PROJECT
Governor of the Eastern
Caribbean Central Bank,
Sir Dwight Venner, has described the Argyle International Airport
Project as “fascinating and long overdue”.
Following a visit to the site on Thursday May 14th, Sir Dwight noted that the construction of an
international airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines is the
fulfillment of a want by
Vincentians for proper airport facilities. Sir Dwight in
commenting said that all
Vincentians should be proud of the efforts by the government to fulfill their years’ old dream.
He pointed out that St Vincent and the Grenadines and Dominica are the only two countries in the region without an international airport, the result of which is
reflected in the fact that these two countries also have the
lowest per capita income in the region.
Regarding the viability of the project, Sir Dwight hinted that when one is calculating the
viability of any project one must take everything into
consideration. He said some
projects may not appear to be viable, however, viability must be looked at in its totality: financial, economic and social. He then posed these questions: What
happens if St Vincent and the Grenadines becomes a modern state? What is one of the most important things needed for any modern state?
Sir Dwight opines that an inter-national airport in St Vincent and the Grenadines will provide ac-cess and increased level of secu-rity for vital things coming into the
country.
He hailed the decision by
government to go ahead with the construction of the international airport as a good one and said that personally he is very happy with the project. The Central Bank Governor noted that given the scope of work, 2012 for
completion is feasible providing that the pace of work is kept up. He however cautioned that
finishing will take time and that those doing the finishing touches on the terminal building will have to be monitored very closely to avoid undue delays.
Source: http://www.svgiadc.com/PDF/Newsletter%20…20Copy.pdf
After 2012 here is what the Caribbean will look like with International Airports capable of handling Non Stop Jet Flights from the US, Canada, Europe. Here is a list so far starting north all the way to South America, grab your atlas and start making pencil marks.
Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Turks & Caicos, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, St Thomas, St Croix, St Maarten, Antigua, St Kitts & Nevis, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St Lucia, Barbados, St Vincent & the Grenadines (after 2012), Grenada, Trinidad & Tobago, Guyana, Aruba, Bonaire, Curacao.
DOMINICA NEEDS AN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
@THUNDERHORSE you a a horses ass just like liat you a slow and late to understand just like they are i wonder if is because you have never travelled? L I A T…(Luggage In Another Terminal) we a tired and fed up with this bull. Away with liat
LIAT? i just hate that airline as for ANTIGUA doh talk it is damn well true ppl’s bags alway’s get lost there .give me a break talking about ppl not putting their names on their bags that’s why they getting lost ? that’s a damn lie .anytime ur bags stay in that place don’t wait for it .if ever u get it half of ur stuff gone .and this is what has been happening for years .
Thunderhorse, you commend LIAT for “…taking a business approach to secure revenue”. How businesslike would you call an airline with a staffing/seat ratio of practically 1/1 – yes one employee for every seat! Or how about anachronistic fixed costs that require the airline to maintain a full-fledged office in Dominica when independent travel agents easily can- & do perform this task. A local LIAT office is a luxury, would hardly be missed and considerable costs could be saved. LIAT enjoys protected status and that is why it is inefficient, plain and simple!
it was about time somebody brign that up, The island to very close to each other for ppl to be payin high prices in ticket just to cross over. As I am always saying the caribbean needs another another to boycott liat so that they can stop what they are doing… this is ridiculus… That’s why I do not travel on Liat…AA all the way.. don’t car if it take me 3 days to reach dominica but i will not travel on Liat….
Mr Chastenet, when you were Minister for Tourism you point blank refused to directly fund LIAT.
Mr Chastenet, when you were Minister for Tourism to chose to PAY American Eagle US$600,000 to compete with LIAT on Barbados to St Lucia routing.
Mr Chastenet, all airlines Big and small can not operating with Government assistance.
Ask BA and American about some of their “Government” protected routings.
Ask BA and Air France how much thier paid for their fleet of Concorde Aircraft.
Ask Ryan Air about thier landing fees at some of thier wayward European destinations.
LIAT are looking to upgrade their Fleet, when is St Lucia going to do to assistance.
I agree with you on LIAT fuel Surcharge.
But what about the Facilities, Passenger and Sales Taxes, that also goes to make up the Ticket price.
I believe it is you that needs to take your head out of the sand and smell the “Bush Tea”.
well said minister.. we need more of concern bodies agencies private sector to put pressure on liat. How is so costly to fly round caricom?
yes i thinck that it is about time that some one do something about that man it is cheaper from LA to trinidad than from trinidad to dominica and it is cheaper to fly from trinidad to antigua than from trinidad to D/A and it is outragous man it is highway rubbery
Blacka, that site lucians don’t really know about it. Due to the facts we have 3 local newspapers online and 2 tv channels with videos showing the news. Why the hate though?? over 3 weeks now we haven’t had a murder. You sound jealous of us.
@ Blacka for your information I’m a born and bred Dominican so I have as much right as U to be here!! BTW U seem to know alot about St Lucia’s news..guess U should not be visiting their website either!! St Lucians are the last of Caribbean people for Dominicans to criticise!!@ Thunder Horse I’m not referring to untagged luggage etc..I’m referring to luggage being in transit and when U get home there are items missing and the only place it could have gone missing is in Antigua!!How can passengers get access to luggage in transit???I am not saying what I heard I have had it happen to me numerous times and only when in transit in Antigua!!
Thank God!,the St.Lucian minister has finally seen the light.I have been saying for the past 30 years that the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority are a bunch of idiots.
LIAT is not a bus ride that you can pay a few dollars from here to there, we have to realise that taxes are included, the actual price of the tickets are far affordable before taxes are added, proof of this can be found on the LIAT booking website http://www.liatairline.com . We cannot blame LIAT for that, there are certain regulatory bodies in the region that will have to lessen taxes. It is regulated in Europe and USA why not the Caribbean.
One thing with us caribbean people is that we blame LIAT too much for the ECCAA and taxes imposed on the Airline from every caribbean island. We should stop criticising and ask the remaining government to become shareholders of LIAT, then it would be a more exceptional airline.
DomLucian, you spoke about LIAT workers stealing baggage, this is a lie, talk to your customes friends at the airports to find out wat happens to bags in our custom halls, passengers take up other peoples bags, even the porters at various airports steal bags, you need to come to reality, wake up and smell the bush tea.
The reason why people’s bags get lost is that they never put name tags on their bags nor write their names on boxes ad if the airlines say one bag all you want to carry six, obey the rules or face the consequences
And i’m urging all LIAT eployees to speak out, because their are ungrateful caribbean people who lash their tongues at you guys, I know most of my friends who work their are hard working people, keep up the good work and SOAR ABOVE WHAT THE DEVIL LASH OUT AT YOU GUYS, GOD ALWAYS GIVES LIAT VICTORY OVER SERPENTS TONGUES.
Susan has a point, I believe its the Governments that are sucking the most they can get out of LIAT
WHY THEM LUCIANS COMING IN HERE FLAPPING GUMS WHILE THEIR NEWS SITE http://www.stlucianewsonline.com AINT GOT NOT ONE COMMENT UNDER ANY OF THEIR NEWS WHICH IS FIELD WITH 98% MURDER RELATED NEWS. I’m happy y’all tourism booming though thanks to all them wonderful hotels that advertise 4 y’all..But do sumn about y’all image y’all turning like Trinidad and Jamaica now with all them murder and kidnapping crimes..can’t have that man.
@THUNDER HORSE u a mad man..It does not seem you travel much at all these prices are outrageous jed When Caribbean star was in works liat used to freaking cry about their prices too low..Liat is a pig.. it was a good day 4 all of us Caribbean folks just too bad the owner of star was a loser. Wish we had other great options.
@ Liat defender…Its understood that U have to defend Liat because U’re either one of those who benefit from Liat being in Antigua or one of those who live by stealing from Liat passengers luggage whenever they touch down in Antigua!! All in all Antigua would be nothing without Liat now that Sanford is gone!! I strongly agree with Mr Chastenet as a frequent caribbean traveller!!! Let’s hope something actually comes out of this!!!
Thanks to Mr. Chastenet, now i can fly AA or jetblue direct from jfk to St. Lucia an barely pay $325US including taxes.
THUNDER HORSE, Virgin and BA isn’t subsidize for flying to St. Lucia, get your facts right. Empty seats when AA has 89% laod factors into St. Luica some months. You think AA would increase the JFK route to 4 weekly from 2. And have the 11 weekly Miami flight switch froma b737-800 to a 757-200 aircraft to add capacity?. You think Delta would increase it’s flights to 10 weekly? with 7, 757-200’s and 3 737s?. You think US aiways would increase flights and Jetblue is looking at increase flights?. So they not empty then. In jan. St lucia has a 33% increase in arrivals from the US, The most ever. So yeah keep talking crap while our tourism industry is moving forward. While we have new hotel projects starting an the rebuilding of our int’l airport with jet bridges to connect the aircraft with the terminal to begin in a few months.
everybody knows chastenet has a thing agains liat.mr chastenet needs to go back to his government and ask them to remove the almost EC100.00 that a passenger pays if he or she is intransiting st lucia from 1 liat flight to a next.stop making it look like liat is over charging the ppl when more than half the ticket prices are government taxes.why not ask the government to drop all those taxes then caribbean ppl can start experiencing cheaper fares.apparently mr chastenet forgot that st.lucia is paying delta ,amercian etc that they can keep coming into st.lucia.mr chastenet offer liat the same deal and i’ll guarantee you lucians will pay cheaper airfares.@ smally axa don’t be a retard,caribbean airlines operates airbuses liat dash-8s see the difference?you can’t espect liat to move as much baggage as caribbean airline especially with a full flight?the same caribbean airlines you talk about i travelled with them last year from canada and my bags got left bag becuz of weight.stop making it look like its only a liat thing.even virgin with its 747 sometime land in antigua and had to leave bags back in the U.K. i pisses me off to hear ppl always ready to bash liat becuz they can’t have their way.the company has its baggage policy on its website http://www.liatairline.com go read so next time you travel you don’t try to take 10 bags with you then complain that you don’t get your bags.
I miss Cardinal Airlines. They need to make a come back some how. They would make a killing right about now.
I plan to go back home for Xmas and I’m banking on AA. Buy local they say….well Liat cannot support my business so why should I buy theirs.
I believe these islands that are not share holders should come together to form their own airline service or at least back one.
Thunderhorse, please tell us who is ubsidising Virgin, Delta, BA and American? Are we really to believe that the likes of Ryanair in Europe and Jet Blue in the U.S.A. are so competitive because they are not run on a proper business model or may be subsisdised? It is precisely because there is competition that airlines come & go and/or merge in these markets.They are either inefficient or not competitive and if anything this is proof that a truly competitive market is good both for the industry and the consumer. If LIAT were such a good service provider ask yourself why it is that it is not our leaders’ preferred choise of transport when they go about their official business?I hate to think it is simply that they do want to share LIAT’s superb service with the people they represent and use charter services instead!
liat need to get out of de caribbean i hate liat it nothin but a waste of time payin ur money 4 de shi… they does do us 2008 i went guyana my bags end up in st.kitts like de people that work 4 them can’t read r wa? an don’t get me started about how they like to tak thing out ur bag that not there own will last year i went on caribbean airlines to g-t an all went will i reach early safe an with everything an that would b my airline from now on an a other thing i pay about $240 less than liat
during liat competition with caribbean star, liat prices were down to EC261 from dominica to trinidad. the fuel price at the pumps was approximately EC$11.00 at that time.
today the price at the pumps is 11.81 and a ticket from dominica to trinidad is Aprox. EC$1200.00
all i want to know is this;
1. were the taxes from these governments mentioned a lot less then/ is liat being taxed more now by these governments?
2. what was it that liat sacrificed during these times to offer tickets as low as EC$261 then. i hope that the sacrifice wasn’t on the maintenance of these crafts.
3. can they do it again? i pray that the sacrifice was on the margin of profit.
They charging high because they are the only regional airline and all other airlines which tried failed after a while. Jah knows, I miss caribbean star….. I HATE … Liat
Agree entirely with mr. Chastenet. The service level of LIAT ,its disregard of passengers and high fares only go to confirm its monopoly position. The time may have come for us to leave Antigua out of the loop forconnecting flights and concentrate on alternative hubs such as St. Maarten and St. Lucia – I am hesitant to mention Barbados here as they too have a vested interest in the well-being of LIAT although to a far lesser extent than Antiga
If St. Lucia was subsidising seat on LIAT like what they do for empty seats on Delta, American, Virgin and BA, then LIAT would have cheap tickets.
You see rising fares in every mode of transportation right now, Bus Fares are on the rise, Ferry Fares etc. LIAT is not a Bus ride from Loubiere to Roseau or from Micould to Castries.
You also see rise in clothing, food and other comodities, why pick on LIAT. St Lucia and Dominica Governments are not shareholders in the Airlines, if our Governments invest in the airline then, they can have say in LIAT business. Thanks to the remaining three who are shareholders.
Tell me why 10 Airlines in Europe had to close down and others had to merge to survive? We cannot blame LIAT, BLAME CARIBBEAN GOVERNMENTS FOR BEING SOO NEGLECTFULL BY SUPPORTING OTHER AIRLINE ENTITIES THAN LIAT.
LIAT WILL CONTINUE TO RISE AND I COMMEND THEM FOR TAKING A BUSINESS APPORACH TO SECURE REVENUE.
Minister Chastenet is obviously not aware that included in those high airfares are high taxes added on by Governments. He was at the right forum to ask the Prime MInisters why they are charging such high taxes on inter-island travel? Let’s be fair.