LIAT – Magnetic Media

Barbados price reduction to facilitate CARICOM inter-regional travel

Deandrea Hamilton — Thu, 03 Aug 2023 01:33:15 +0000

Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#Barbados, August 1, 2023 – Barbados has made moves to better facilitate regional travel with the reduction of its airport service charge from US$35 to US$20.

Ian Gooding-Edghill, Minister of Tourism highlighted that the reduction which will be for six months, ending on December 14, 2023, was done because of the high cost of inter-regional travel, in efforts to stimulate the local market.

“So, we’ve taken that decision. We recognize that the CARICOM market is price sensitive [and] we recognize if we are going to drive traffic to the destination in the absence of having what was LIAT in its former form, then we had to take the necessary steps to make the adjustments,” he said.

Also, as he pointed out, this was done to also bring more arrivals into Barbados.

“We took this step because we felt confident that a reduction in the airport service charge will stimulate travel within the region and also ensure that we get more arrivals from the Caribbean into Barbados,” he further stated

Additionally, there has been collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism and airlines such as Air Antilles and InterCaribbean in efforts to increase the number of weekly flights to the island, and Edghill expressed that the results are good as arrivals have indeed increased.

“I am pleased to say, based on the load factors coming out of both regional carriers, that we are seeing an increase in the number of arrivals from within CARICOM.”

LIAT turns 59, celebrates with big discount on airline tickets

Deandrea S Hamilton — Wed, 14 Oct 2015 22:03:48 +0000

Providenciales, 14 Oct 2015 – LIAT, will on Friday October 16, celebrate 59 years of service to travelers in the Caribbean.

The airline will mark the occasion with a 59% discount on tickets from today, until Friday but those tickets purchased under the birthday discount are redeemable until November 30.

LIAT, then an acronym for Leeward Island Air Transport Ltd., was founded in Montserrat in October 1956 by St. Kitts born, Sir Frank Delisle.

Billion dollar loss recorded for Caribbean airliners

Deandrea S Hamilton — Tue, 26 May 2015 21:23:02 +0000

Providenciales, 26 May 2015 – The Turks and Caicos attended a recent CDB meeting in St Kitts and Nevis and among the items emerging from the two day conclave was that a study proved regional airlines are suffering about a billion (dollars) in losses per year. The finding will reportedly lead to the establishment, by CARICOM, of an Airlines Association and an Air Transport Reform Association. The study, commissioned by the CDB, covers all 15-members of the regional integration grouping and was carried out between the last quarter of 2014 and March this year. Among the airlines scrutinized by the study and identified in the report are Caribbean Airlines, LIAT and Bahamasair.

A Jamaica Observer article explains this: “Specifically, the study recommended a double-pronged approach if a turnaround is to be achieved. The first is for the airlines to set up a “quick wins” CARICOM-centric Airlines Association to share best practice and identify cost reduction and revenue enhancement opportunities that could be pursued jointly. The second is the establishment of a high-level Air Transport Reform Authority to address the longer-term structural, institutional and industrial barriers. The Authority would consist of proven aviation professionals, accountable to the region’s taxpayers.” The study, entitled “Making Air Transport Work Better for the Caribbean” was presented during the 45th CDB Board of Governors meeting last week.