LIAT Shareholders reach decision on aircraft type for fleet renewal

Heads of LIAT’s Majority Shareholders Dr Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines, Freundel Stuart, Q.C., Prime Minister of Barbados and Dr Baldwin Spencer, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda met with the Chairman,{{more}} Board and Management of LIAT in Bridgetown, Barbados last Friday and reached several major decisions on the Company’s re-fleeting plans.

Speaking at a press conference following the meeting, Gonsalves said the company has completed its analysis and evaluation of the proposals submitted by aircraft manufacturers.

The three prime ministers considered recommendations from the company’s board of directors and management and unanimously decided upon one aircraft type to renew LIAT’s ageing fleet. The prime ministers decided to defer the decision on other aircraft types to allow certain matters to be explored.

It is anticipated that these decisions will be made in the short term.

“The company will now proceed to discussions with the manufacturer of the first type selected. The discussions are intended to consummate in an agreement for the acquisition of new aircraft for the airline. For a number of reasons, we do not wish to declare just which aircraft type has been chosen. It would also be inappropriate at this stage, before discussion with the manufacturers, to give an indication of the decision of the company in the selection of an aircraft type,” Gonsalves added.

The company anticipates that these negotiations would commence immediately and proceed swiftly and soon thereafter a formal announcement will be made regarding the selection.