Chairman of LIAT, Dr. Jean Holder, presents a token of appreciation to Rector of the St. George Parish Church, Rev. John Rogers, during the service yesterday morning.
Members of the LIAT Executive, staff and well-wishers during yesterday’s service to mark their 60th anniversary.
LIAT is vital
Mon, 10/17/2016 - 12:00am
Regional airline LIAT has facilitated as much as US$145 million of incoming tourist expenditure to the Barbados economy in 2012.
That’s according to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport, Donna Cadogan, who noted that in the same period
the airline also facilitated US$107 million towards the balance of payment surplus associated with tourism.
Moreover, she said that in addition to the 90 staff members in Barbados, which accounts for 14 per cent of the company’s 669-strong staff complement, the airline is also responsible for generating a number of indirect jobs in the Barbadian market.
“It is estimated that LIAT’s activities generated 472 indirect jobs and 649 induced jobs through supplier relations and activities. The related supplier expenditure is estimated to be US$26 million,” the Permanent Secretary added.
Cadogan was addressing the congregation at the St. George Parish Church yesterday morning where the executive and staff of LIAT gathered to commemorate the regional airline’s 60th Anniversary. Her comments came as she spoke in-depth of the valuable contribution the airline has and continues to make to Barbados and the wider region, transporting last year alone some 733 000 passengers, a figure they are also expected to meet this year.
The Permanent Secretary indicated the carrier is also expected, in the upcoming winter season, to operate some 558 flights per week to 18 destinations across the Caribbean.
“For Barbados, LIAT is a very important carrier operating on average 112 flights a week… This is about 20 per cent of LIAT’s total flights and 52 per cent of all flights operating out of the Grantley Adams International Airport… The Barbados market accounts for almost 20 per cent of LIAT’s total passenger revenue. Inclusive of labour costs, LIAT’s operating expenditure in Barbados is estimated at US$4.4 million annually,” she added.
The Permanent Secretary made the point as she also noted that LIAT’s 60 years have not been easy as the airline has struggled to keep the region connected. She lamented that only a few governments invest in the company in an effort to maintain and improve the service, while the vast majority of those who benefit, insist that they will contribute when the service has improved. In spite of this she maintained, the airline has pressed on.
“…While not even its biggest fans believe that it offers a perfect service, LIAT has not only outlived several of its competitors, but continues to connect the region to an extent that strains both its present resources and belief,” she stated.
Her remarks came as she noted that during the past two years, the airline, in an effort to restructure its operations, completely transformed the entire fleet from 18 DASH 8 airplanes to nine, soon to be 10, ATRs. This, she said, was done without any break in operations and they have also been able to skilfully negotiate the sale of the old planes. (JRT)