The arrival of the first new 68-seat LIAT ATR 72-600 aircraft at the VC Bird International Airport yesterday was hailed a “game changer” by LIAT Chief Executive Officer Ian Brunton.

Hours after coming under heavy criticism for his remarks on the issue of increased pay for LIAT’s pilots, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Captain Ian Brunton said the company has not made any decision on the matter.

The last American Eagle flight from Puerto Rico to Antigua landed on island yesterday, ending the carrier’s 23-year run between the two islands.

Former chairman of the Leeward Islands Pilots Association (LIALPA), Captain Michael Blackburn, has won his unfair dismissal case against regional carrier LIAT.

LIAT on Monday announced it had been forced to suspend flights to St Lucia where public servants have taken industrial action to force the government to increase their salaries and wages.

For what can only be described as inequitable, unfortunately there really is no such thing as a cheap or competitive flight price on flights within the Caribbean, or to the Caribbean these days. Whilst fuel prices are increasing, regional taxes account for 50 per cent of the cost of regional fares and for individuals visiting from the United Kingdom, there is the financial burden of the astronomically high Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax to take into account.

A month after projecting it would make a “modest” $7 million profit in 2013, LIAT says such an achievement is no longer possible.

The Chairman of LIAT wants regional heads to hold a special meeting on air transportation early in the New Year.

“Workable,” “realistic,” and “doable” were the choice words of Leeward Island Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) Captain Carl Burke, as he shared his thoughts about LIAT’s new business plan.

Regional carrier LIAT’s maintenance bill is said to have topped US $2 million in the last six months alone – as it continues to bleed from damage suffered in the June 10 blaze.