Tuesday 1 February, 2011 saw the official launch of LIAT’s dedicated freight service, which will provide an opportunity for expanding trade within the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and open the door to expanded trade in certain products which up to now have been constrained by lack of affordable scheduled air freight capability. Commenting on the outdated bureaucratic practices which have proved a barrier to the growth and development of cargo services within the region, LIAT Director of Cargo and Quikpak Wilbur Edwards said: “There are certain regulations that drive up the cost of doing business, and these hindrances have been allowed to flourish rather than be eliminated. These costs have driven a lot of potential business from the shores of these territories and LIAT has nowhere to run but only to suffer the consequences.”

Need to know
Effective 3 January, 2011 all travellers (including infants and children) are required to provide their Date of Birth (DOB) at the time they make a booking to travel on LIAT. From the beginning of this year,  the Date of Birth field became mandatory for all of LIAT’s booking areas. This is applicable to all 22 LIAT destinations and was driven by the Company’s compliance with the Secure Flight Programme.

Making history
The LIAT Flight Attendants Association (LIFAA) has elected a new executive, creating history in the process with male Flight Attendants being elected as President and Secretary for the first time in its history. Olando Copeland will serve as LIFAA president for the next two years with Kortensia Moses as Vice President. The other new members are Euston Dickenson, Secretary; Aliya Rodrigues, Treasurer; Kishma Henry, Public Relations Officer; and Abbey Sandiford, Barbados, Representative.

We have a winner!
In a presentation at her workplace, a team from LIAT including Chief Commercial Officer Leesa Parris-Rudder and Marketing Manager Derrick Frederick, presented Barbadian Kim Donaie with the Grand Prize of the second annual Lift Off competition. 

Kim, an ardent regional traveller, expressed her gratitude to LIAT and told officials that her first trip would probably be to St Lucia. “I want to take my father, who is St Lucian- born, to visit his homeland, a trip that has been pending for some years now,” the excited Ms. Donaie remarked.

Along with the 12 round-trip tickets with all taxes paid to any of LIAT’s 22 destinations, this second edition of the competition also included five free, 3-night 4-day accommodation prizes at The St. Kitts Resort & the Royal Beach Casino Marriott; Courtyard Marriott Trinidad; Frenchman’s Reef and Morning Star, St. Thomas Virgin Islands Resort Marriott and Almond Resorts in Barbados and St. Lucia. Additionally, LIME partnered with LIAT to offer a BlackBerry Bold handset and three months free residential ADSL service.

Letters from YOU!
Tell us about your travel experience with LIAT. We want to hear from you. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Cool, calm & considerate
I write to inform you of the excellent care I received in St Lucia while en route to Martinique from Trinidad with my 3-year-old son. We were unfortunately bumped off the flight as a smaller plane arrived. I was of course quite upset as we had been awake since 4am and the thought of spending a whole day in transit with an extremely active 3-year-old boy made me weary. As I think you’d expect I did give your staff a hard time, but amidst the pressure of an upset passenger and a sleepy child your staff kept their cool and they were polite and respectful. I’d like to commend the LIAT staff in St Lucia for this.
Toni M. Isidore Smart

Staff Superstar
I frequently read customer comments as evidence of excellence with some cynicism, however your employee of the year Denis Jules the ‘Antigua Baggage Master’ is a tolerant, clever, witty, resourceful, kind and understanding person who deserves much praise. Our holiday could have been ruined without his skillful intervention on our behalf.
Mr & Mrs James Johnson

Change of plan
When my husband and I arrived from Mustique earlier than our flight was due, I went to the LIAT check-in desk and requested, if we were not too late, to get on the afternoon flight so that we didn’t have to hang around for four to five hours until the evening. Your ground staff were wonderful and although the flight was closed, it was delayed slightly and had seats available, so they rushed us through and we made it. Wonderful job LIAT. We’d like to say well done to all.
Mrs Jasmine Welch

Sign up!
LIAT has launched a newsletter, which will be sent via email on a twice-monthly basis. It includes information about special offers, events across the region and the chance to win a US$100 gift voucher every month. To subscribe visit www.liat.com and click on the e-newsletter ‘Sign Up’ button on the home page.