ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, January 25, 2010 – LIAT (1974) LTD has been forced to push back the introduction of its first-scheduled cargo service due to the late delivery of one of its aircraft from Canada.
Since late last year the company has been in the process of converting one of its three Dash 8 (100) aircraft into a full-fledged freighter.
In October 2009 the aircraft was sent to Canada for a C Check (an aircraft maintenance check performed every 12-18 months or a specific amount of actual flight hours as defined by the manufacturer) with the expectation that it would be returned in November for the planned December 2009 start-up of the freighter service.
However, once it arrived in Canada, technical requirements of the aircraft coupled with the unavailability of parts at the manufacturer’s warehouse resulted in a significant lengthening of the time it is taking to have the C Check completed. This has led to a slippage in the delivery of the aircraft back to LIAT.
While LIAT is still awaiting a firm date for its return, indications are that the aircraft should now be available by mid February.
Once the aircraft has been delivered, final approval will be required by Transport Canada and the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA).
The company has now set a new target date of March 1, 2010 for introduction of the cargo service.
Over the past several months LIAT has been training cargo staff in preparation for the start-up of the cargo service. New cargo software programming has also been installed and is being initiated throughout the LIAT network.
Once the new cargo service comes on stream, customers for the first time will be able to book cargo on LIAT. Already, there has been considerable interest by regional manufacturers, agricultural exporters and other traders in the start-up of the service.
LIAT views this as a very important project which realizes the long standing wish of the Caribbean people for an indigenous air freighter service as well as being central to the airline’s efforts to maintain itself as a viable carrier serving the people of the Eastern Caribbean.
Liat may have its flaws…but alas, we have to give them some props. Liat is very Generous with overweight luggage, especially for students, whilst the international carriers don’t care one patat. Even if you reach before your bags you will most likely get them with all the contents….unless they pass trhough Antigua….but dat is a whole ‘nother story…..
Ask for the late flights, well sometimes when we check in less than one hour before the flight they will still let you board, as long as the check out is not closed….the international airlines? No Kayray!
My biggest problem with Liat is this booking situation where you can only reserve the flight for one day before you have to pay, to me they can be a little more lenient with that, and to be honest the fares are simply too high….you can practically fly to the US for almost the same price….so they need to look into that.
boy some dominicans ungateful.how many dominican groups you see travel on american with promotional aids or for church conferences and get all their excess baggage waived?none yet when they travel liat they get that luxury.how many times have you seen dominicans arrive to the airport late and american puts them on the flight?now ask yourself how many times have liat had to delay its flight to accommodate DOMINICANS who arrive to the airport late when the flight is on the ground and liat staff still assist them and get them on the flight thus in some cases causes liat to be late when it was opperating on time?countless especially with those musical groups and dem calypsonians that like to sing about liat not leaving out the sporting groups.what liat needs to do is leave them down even if they are only 5 mins late maybe then they would appreciate that when liat runs late sometimes it cuz they tried to assist late passenger at another station thus causing a ripple effect.
BOY LIAT SWEET EH!! YET SOME DOMINICANS CRYING IT DOWN.THE FUNNY THING IS WHEN THEY NEED FAVOURS LIAT THEY RUNNING TO.SOME OF US HAVE THE CRAB MENTALITY.WE’LL BITE THE HAND THAT FEED US
LIAT is our only carrier, so all my support is to them, they try very hard to please and need encouragement. Dominicans need to travel on other carriers to see missing luggage, the other day .. GOD BLESS LIAT ALWAYS.
Dominicans are too small minded.
They think LIAT is a bus ride to Roseau? The people have to pay for FUEL. Even fuel prices killing us in Dominica. I believe the cargo service will be GREAT. KEEP it up LIAT yoy will get your FLOWERS from us here in St Kitts.
Dominicans need an International Airport.
One thing I know is that LIAT always take you home safe, LIAT is based on safety and prefers to delay of cancel to ensure that you are transported safely, you guys are too ungratefull.Give Jack his jacket. You all are soo bad talking the airline with tourists and investors, then you wonder why we don’t receive many tourists in Dominica.
American and the other airlines treat you all like dogs and you don’t say anything about it. Get an International Airport, maybe if we get one, we will better appreciate the services of LIAT and all goat mouth will be turned towards the others.
LIAT offers EXCELLENT service compared to others I’ve flown on
Liat is the best venue for a vacation! Where else can you spend hundreds of dollars to your destination and end up seeing just about every island in the Caribbean and ending up in a stranger’s house in Antigua or Barbados? Many pieces of lost luggage can attest to that.
Thanks LIAT! One more way to expose the lousy service …. How apropos the acronym. Don’t care how often you attempt to differentiate your product, what permeates through your service concept is still “Leave Island Any Time”. You cannot transport people efficiently so now you decide to try cargo. Good move.
Late arrivals and lost baggage by LIAT will equal late cargo arrivals by Cargo LIAT. I lost faith in LIAT man moons ago.
LIAT is always efficient. Tell me one business in the caribbean other than LIAT that you find not efficient, thaere are soo many. dONT TALK ABOUT LIAT
Thank you liat . I hope it will be run as efficiently as other cargo operators in the region.