(Antigua Sun) – Up to last weekend, operations at regional airline LIAT were not fully back to normal, following several delays and cancellations of flights late last week.
Many passengers were reportedly left stranded at some airports, including Antigua and Barbuda, due to the disruptions.
The sudden cancellations of flights caused passengers to miss important appointments while others had to cope with starting their planned vacations late.
On Friday morning, there were several passengers at the VC Bird International Airport waiting and hoping to get a flight off the island after being stranded for a day or two.
In a statement to the media, Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of LIAT Brian Challenger said the disruptions arose from “a distinct lack of co-operation by some pilots and an unusual increase in unscheduled maintenance,” resulting in a severe strain on the carrier’s operations at a time when its schedule calls for maximum aircraft availability.
“As a result, we have been unable to fulfil our social contract to transport the people of the Caribbean in a timely manner,” Challenger said
Challenger’s statements have, however, caused some reaction among the pilots belonging to the Leeward Airline Pilot’s Association (LIALPA).
Chairman of the association Michael Blackburn said he does not know what level of co-operation Challenger wants and he is not aware of any reduced co-operation.
“The navigational facilities in Barbados and Guyana have decreased. Due to that situation, the demand for navigational equipment increases and we are inadequate to navigate on some our planes,” Blackburn told the Antigua Sun.
“What you want me to do, tell my people to go and fly unsafe? What level of co-operation do you want? It appears to me that there is a problem with maintenance from the documents I have received from my colleagues, and I tell them safety is our first priority.”
Blackburn further stated that if Challenger communicates to him by letting him know what he is looking for he will do all in his power to ensure that the social contract between LIAT and LIALPA still exists. “All that I am aware of is that the pilots are very unhappy because of the injunction against the pilots,” he said.
“Before the injunction I went an extra mile; now the injunction, I am not going an inch. If I don’t do it, I certainly don’t expect my members do it.” Last Saturday, LIAT appealed to its customers for their continued patience and understanding as it addresses the problems.
The company acknowledged that the months of July and August are usually two of the busiest for LIAT with high volumes of vacationers and other people making trips during the summer.
“On behalf of the rest of the management team I would like to express heartfelt thanks to staff throughout the network who have come under tremendous pressure in recent days, especially those employees on the frontline who have had to deal with disrupted customers,” Challenger said in a release.
