Gonsalves hopeful SVG will be on itinerary of new LIAT

THE INAUGURAL FLIGHT of the new LIAT 2020 took to the skies earlier this month with a limited schedule to service only three islands.

St Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados are the three routes listed on the recently released flight schedule on August 10, 2024, with no indication from management as to when or if St Vincent and the Grenadines will be added to the schedule.

LIAT 2020 is a 30/70 joint venture between the government of Antigua & Barbuda and a Nigerian carrier, which is reportedly investing between US$80 million and US$90 million according to Antigua news media.

Speaking at the launch, Antigua and Barbuda’s prime minister, Gaston Browne, announced that the partnership with Air Peace will equip LIAT 2020 with at least seven aircraft, with plans for future expansion as travel demand grows, reported the Trinidad Express.

Prime Minister, Dr Ralph Gonsalves speaking on WEFM 99.9 just days after the inaugural flight, disclosed that he had informal discussions with LIAT’s Chief Executive Officer, Hafsah Abdulsalam on the sidelines of the recently concluded 47th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)in Grenada last month.

Gonsalves said St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is ready to welcome the new LIAT, and added that he believed the country will be included as the airline expands its routes.

“They have a limited number of planes at the moment and they are awaiting further expansion for a full build out.

I am hopeful that they will come. We welcome them, we have space to accommodate them if they want to set up any offices. We will fully cooperate, I told [Prime Minister] Gaston Browne that.”

Speaking at the inaugural flight on August 6, 2024, CEO Abdulsalam was optimistic that the airline, which launched its first commercial flight on Tuesday, August 13, will play a significant role in the future development of the regional integration movement.

The now non-existent LIAT 1974 Limited took a nosedive following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and eventually fizzled out leaving pilots and other employees in the lurch over owed severance packages. The Barbados government last year announced plans to make the three year old outstanding severance payments to the former airline’s Barbados workers. However up to April of this year, Vincentian workers had received no definite word from the government of St Vincent and the Grenadines about covering severance packages.

LIAT 2020 also said that its website is still being developed, so bookings are only being accepted via telephone or email.