LIALPA Chairman Michael Blackburn denies pilots are to blame for disruptions to LIAT service.

CARIBBEAN-LIAT-Pilots’ spokesman says don’t blame us, blame management for disruptions

 

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados, CMC - A top official of the LIAT pilots association, LIALPA, says blame must be placed squarely on the shoulders of the airline’s management for persistent disruptions in service that are adversely affecting air travel within the region.

 

In recent days, there have been several customer complaints about poor service by the Antigua-based carrier, with the LIAT's management pointing to a high level of uncertified sickness and mass resignations of crew members.

 

But LIALPA Chairman Captain Michael Blackburn said that as far as he was aware, only five of the airline's 120 pilots have resigned over the past three weeks.

 

He also stated that the reported level of sickness claims was greatly exaggerated, while accusing the company’s management of failing to deal with the fundamental matter of crewing, which he suggested was at the heart of the recent interruptions in service.

 

“What has happened, has not happened because there is some aviation influenza in the Caribbean. It happened because it is the management’s fault,” Blackburn told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC).

 

Blackburn insisted that airline’s management was totally to blame, charging that they had failed to put in place the necessary arrangements for pilots and other crew to support LIAT’s recent increase in business arising from its buyout of Caribbean Star last year.

 

“The crewing we have now cannot take the amount of flights that were available when LIAT and Caribbean Star merged … so that is the problem.”

 

Blackburn pointed to LIAT’s recent announcement of a cut back of its schedule to ease the requirement for pilots and cabin crew.

 

He also welcomed a decision to commence training for 11 new flight attendants and eight pilots, which he said would help the airline to deal with its current shortage of pilots and other crew.

However, Blackburn said he was not convinced that these steps will be enough in view of the airline’s plans to set up a new base of operations in Trinidad, in support of its current operations in Antigua and Barbados.

 

The LIALPA chairman also raised concern about the company’s hiring practices, which he deemed to be incompatible with the policy statement of Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders.

 

“The Prime Minister of St. Vincent, in his capacity as the CARICOM minister for aviation, said Caribbean Star’s industrial policy is incompatible with the industrial policy of the Caribbean.


"My company insists on a policy, which in my judgement is very similar to that and are trying to exclude people who they think might not be pro union that is why we have a shortage of pilots,” he claimed.

 

The LIALPA chairman warned that while his grouping was “fully committed” to the efforts of the airline’s shareholder governments to try to make the airline viable, its patience was wearing thin with management and there was increasing frustration about the direction in which the carrier seemed to be headed.

 

“I don’t intend to support any industrial action unless it is absolutely necessary,” he told CMC, while calling for a major overhaul at LIAT and for the hiring of a new and qualified management team.

 

CMC/kj/bm/2008