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ROSEAU, Dominica, May 12 2016 – Dominica has described as “fruitful” talks held with officials of the Antigua-based regional airline, LIAT.
Tourism Minister Robert Tonge in a statement Wednesday, said that the meeting last Thursday gave Government a chance to state clearly to the LIAT management Dominica’s position on the current situation with regards to the airline’s service to the country as well as hear directly from LIAT the current challenges facing the airline.
“We expressed clearly to LIAT the need for improved service to Dominica. As you know the Prime Minister wrote to LIAT recently and the meeting was a follow-up to the Prime Minister’s letter. The importance of LIAT to Dominica’s air access is critical and it cannot remain business as usual for the country,” Tonge said.
According to the statement, a new schedule goes into effect from June 1, and will result in increased flights to Dominica by the airline, whose major shareholders are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“This will include the reintroduction of a direct flight to Puerto Rico four days a week and additional flights from Barbados and Antigua allowing for same day connections,” the statement said.
Tonge has welcomed this new schedule, saying “same day connections are very important to us. The reintroduction of flights to Puerto Rico and additional flights from Barbados and Antigua will allow this to happen.
“This will also mean the afternoon and early evening flights will once again resume at the Douglas Charles Airport,” Tonge stated.
The statement quoted the LIAT management team as having “expressed satisfaction that Dominica is an integral part of LIAT’s regional agenda.
“However they confirmed that a number of challenges still plague the airline including staffing issues. The addition of a tenth ATR aircraft later this year will further boost capacity,” the statement noted.
