ST JOHNS, Antigua, May 22, 2009 – LIAT staged a sickout that has so far forced the regional airline to cancel 10 of its flights.
The airline confirmed what it called a “partial disruption’ in its service as flight crews based in Barbados, Trinidad, Grenada, and St Vincent called in sick this morning.
The action has already resulted in the cancellation of flights from all four hubs to Barbados, St Lucia, Martinique, Antigua, Grenada, St Vincent, San Juan and Curacao. “LIAT sincerely apologises to affected passengers for the inconvenience caused as a result of the action by its flight crews and will issue further advisories throughout the day,” a statement from LIAT said.
The Leeward Islands Air Pilots Association (LIALPA) has been threatening strike action for some time over a number of issues, including salaries and overtime pay. However, LIAT had said that negotiations with LIALPA were continuing.
Among the flights that have been affected as a result of the action are LI370 from Barbados to St Lucia and Martinique and LI754 from Barbados to Antigua. In Trinidad the affected flights are LI704 to Barbados; LI310 to Grenada, St Vincent and Antigua; LI308 to St Lucia and Antigua, LI384 to St Vincent, St Lucia and San Juan and LI771 to Curacao. Flights out of Grenada were also cancelled. They are LI754 to St Vincent and Barbados; LI310 to Trinidad, Grenada, St Vincent and Antigua and LI303 to Trinidad.