The strike action among pilots attached to the Caribbean regional airline LIAT, which began Wednesday, entered its second day yesterday. As was the case on Wednesday, the pilots again called in sick, crippling the airline’s operations for a second day running.
A 08.00h advisory posted on the airline’s website read “LIAT wishes to advise that it continues to be affected today, 17th June 2010, by industrial action by pilots.
“The action by the pilots has resulted in the cancellation of all LIAT flights this morning.
“While the company is doing everything to minimize the effect on passengers, they are being advised that for the rest of the day they should expect further cancellations.”
The airline is headquartered in Antigua and passengers from the other Caribbean destinations needing additional information were advised to call toll free 1-888-844-5428.
LIAT has expressed regret and apologised for the inconvenience to its customers and passengers as a result of the disruptions, and has promised to issue further advisories as is necessary.
LIAT’s Corporate Communications Manager, Desmond Brown, in a statement on Wednesday following queries from some stranded passengers as to who would foot the bill for their additional accommodation, said, “all affected passengers will be allowed to rebook without additional costs.”
“Passengers who no longer wish to travel as planned, due to the disruption, will be issued a full credit for future travel on LIAT.”
The airline warned though that it could not “guarantee travel to passengers who turn up at the airport without confirmed bookings”.
The pilots, who are represented by the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA), are calling for outstanding issues, including retroactive holiday pay and pension funds, to be addressed before returning to work.
A Caribbean Airlines official yesterday confirmed that the airline has, “as best as it can”, been accommodating incoming and outgoing stranded LIAT passengers.
There are, however, other carriers which operate a service in the smaller islands.
LIAT’s management on Wednesday lamented that the industrial action called by LIALPA is particularly troubling, as it is before the months of July and August- usually two of the busiest for the airline, with high volumes of vacationers and other people making trips during the summer.
Summer activities include carnival celebrations in St Vincent, St Lucia and Antigua, and the popular crop-over in Barbados.
Also questioned was the wisdom of initiating unwarranted industrial action at a time when the regional and international economies are under such strain.
Meanwhile, a source close to the airline industry yesterday contended that it is when a situation like this arises that a call for a one Caribbean carrier seems justified, since it is the travelling public that is greatly affected.
The point was made that with a regional carrier, the travelling public would benefit from reduced fares, among other things.
And in making reference to recent industrial actions at British Air and Sprint, and the dent it has caused to their economy, the source questioned whether LIAT can afford such disruptions at this time.
Meanwhile, a BBC (Caribbean) article reported Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves as saying he was trying to reach all parties to try to end the industrial action, which has taken the form of a sick-out.
“I’m not pleased with what is happening at all,” said Dr. Gonsalves, whose government is one of the three main shareholders in the carrier.