Extra flights to meet demand for seats
LIAT has put on additional flights to help meet the demand for seats during April. Lesroy Browne, director of schedules and special projects said that, for the period 9-14 April, LIAT would reinstate at least two flights in an effort to help satisfy demand around the time of the Easter weekend. Pointing out that the current world economic crisis was impacting on travel patterns in the Caribbean, Browne added that the regional carrier would adjust its schedule as time goes by based on changes in travel behaviour. “At present there are some flights that are doing fairly well and there are some days with good loads; but unfortunately our forecast overall load factor for the next few months is clearly showing a softening in the markets,” Browne explained. “We will be continuing the process of adjustments throughout this trying time of world economic downturn to ensure that we add capacity where there is a demand and reduce capacity where we see the loads are not holding up.”

Important changes to carry-on baggage policy
LIAT is to allow passengers to take onboard only those bags that have been approved and bear a special tag.

Sonya John, customer service director, said such a move was necessary due to the limited capacity for storing cabin baggage on LIAT’s fleet of Dash 8 aircraft. “We want to ensure all passengers have the opportunity to take their valuables and items of convenience, such as laptops, with them on board,” John said.

Passengers will be required to present their carry-on luggage to check-in agents. “Those bags that meet the requirements of size, weight and quantity allocation will then be tagged with a ‘cabin approved’ baggage tag,” John explained. “Passengers will not be allowed to take onboard bags that do not bear the tag.”

Items such as overcoats, crutches, braces, prosthetics, an infant’s bag or a (small) lady’s handbag are unaffected by the policy change.

Re-discover the Caribbean
The sixth annual Re-discover the Caribbean Show will take place on 24-25 April 2009 at the Sandiford Conference Centre in Barbados. LIAT is one of the main sponsors of the event and will be among more than 100 exhibitors representing 20 Caribbean destinations showcasing all that’s best in travel across the region. These include national tourism offices, hotels, attractions, activities, villa rental agencies, car rental companies, dive operators, yacht charters, travel agents and tour operators. Entrance is free.

• For more information visit www.re-discover.com

Additions to exec team
LIAT has recently appointed Julie Reifer-Jones as chief financial officer and Desmond Brown as corporate communications manager. Pointing to the current global financial crisis, Reifer-Jones said these were challenging times, not only for LIAT, but for the airline industry as a whole.

“The main mission for LIAT is to establish itself as a commercially viable operation while fulfilling our mission to serve all the islands,” she said.

Prior to joining LIAT, Reifer-Jones worked for the Barbados-based Almond Resorts. Brown, who has worked with media outlets throughout the Caribbean, said he hoped to help people get a better understanding of the major role that LIAT plays in the region’s development.

“Generally when you hear about LIAT in the news it is mainly something negative. My aim is to change that,” he said. “LIAT has been serving this region for 52 years and continues to play a tremendous role in helping to develop the area. That story needs to be told.

Our fleet
LIAT operates a fleet of 17 Dash 8 100/300 aircraft, which have proved to be safe, economical and reliable, a favourite for airlines flying the frequencies and range of our Caribbean routes. The latest models Q100/Q300 use an advanced Noise Vibration Suppression system to dramatically reduce cabin noise and vibration, meaning it can boast to be the quietest, most vibration-free turboprop aircraft in the sky today.
• Crew: 2+1
• Passengers: 50
• Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney Canada PW123B turboprops
• Power: 2500shp
• Cruise speed: 285 knots (528km/h)
• Maximum range: 2,034km
• Maximum take-off weight: 19,505kg
• Average cabin noise level: 75dBA
*specs apply to the Q300 model only

Click ahead WW.LIAT.COM
Save time, book online at www.liat.com
Step 1:
• Choose a One-Way, Round-Trip or Multi-City Flight y Select your starting island and departure date
• Enter your destination (and return date if applicable)
• Select how many people are travelling in your party and click ‘Find Flights’

Step 2:
• You will be shown the available flights for your selection and the fare
• Select the flights you wish to take, confirm that you have reviewed, and agree to, the pricing and policies listed on this page and click ‘Select & Continue’

Step 3:
• Complete your contact information

Step 4:
• Complete the details of each person travelling in your party

Step 5:
• Select whether you wish to take out travel insurance
• A total package price is displayed
• Complete your credit card details to make payment

Step 6:
• Confirmation of your payment and an itinerary will be displayed.

That’s it, all done. 

LIAT goes back to school
LIAT HAs launched a new programme aimed at introducing the concept of regional integration and the carrier’s role in that process to students preparing for the Common Entrance or 11-plus examination. The LIAT School Stops Programme is just one of several new initiatives being developed by the airline aimed at getting people, in all age groups, to learn more about the carrier and the vital role it plays in regional integration and development. Desmond Brown, LIAT’s corporate communications manager, said that while children in the Caribbean might be seeing the integration process at work almost on a daily basis, LIAT’s contribution might not be clearly understood. “The plan is to visit primary schools in the various territories served by LIAT and talk directly with the students,” he explained. “We will be visiting two countries every month during the school year, with stops at a minimum of six primary schools, three in each country we visit.”  LIAT has also developed a special pamphlet for children to serve as a fact sheet and also provide some entertainment in the form of a puzzle. Brown said the carrier was also willing to work with primary schools that might be interested in taking children on day trips to any LIAT destination, as this would help to reinforce what they learn in the classrooms.