(Trinidad Express) REDjet flights out of Piarco International Airport were cancelled yesterday as the aircraft was grounded to facilitate engineering inspection and mechanical work.
The airline’s communications executive Nyssa Pierre told the Express two flights were cancelled yesterday from Trinidad to Guyana and from Guyana to Barbados.
Flights from Trinidad to Barbados were delayed as well.
Scores of passengers were affected. Pierre said the airline made every attempt to contact passengers through its call centre, Facebook and Twitter social networking websites.
Operations are expected to resume their regular pace today.
Kevin Dudley, REDJet’s chief operations officer, explained to the Express the reason behind the grounding of the aircraft: “The delay today is as a result of a part replacement and engineering inspections to the aircraft’s anti-icing system in line with REDJet’s standard maintenance procedure.”
He said high altitude aircraft can experience temperatures of minus 50 degrees Celsius which require the use of the anti-icing system.
Dudley said an engineer had to be flown into Trinidad and parts also had to be brought in to ensure the aircraft met all safety standards.
This is the second time REDjet, since it began operations, has been forced to cancel flights due to mechanical problems on its aircraft.
In August, the airline was forced to cancel flights from Trinidad to Barbados and Guyana because of mechanical problems—an aircraft had experienced problems with its hydraulic system.
