In a statement issued early on Tuesday morning, Regional airline, LIAT announced that pilots who were schedule to work on Tuesday morning have stayed away from the job as part of industrial action by the pilot’s trade union.
The airline said “due to action taken by its airline pilots’ trade union LIALPA, pilots who were scheduled to fly this morning, Tuesday, November 5, 2013, have not reported for duty. The company has not been provided with the required notification of industrial action as required under its agreement with the pilots.”
According to LIAT, as a result of the action, some of the company’s morning flights have been disrupted and that problem is also likely to affect service for the remainder of the day.
The airline said customers affected by the disruptions who wish to re-book will be allowed to do so without charge for a period of one week from the date of their originally scheduled travel.
“Following the one-week grace period, passengers will be required to pay applicable fare and change fees when re-booking. Passengers who are unable to travel as planned due to the work stoppage, will be issued a full credit for future travel at their request. Terms and conditions apply”, the airline statement said.
The regional carrier said when services resume, affected passengers are advised to contact LIAT Reservations to re-book before proceeding to the airport.
The statement added that “LIAT also wishes to advise that passengers who decide to travel but are unable to complete their journey due to the disruption, will not be provided with meals, transportation, hotel accommodation, etc. Passengers with onward connections are advised to contact their respective carriers.”
The airline has been affected by industrial action almost annually and has been looking at ways to avoid the various strike action. The latest industrial action comes at a time when the airline is buying new aircraft to add to its fleet and is getting ready to launch a more aggressive marketing strategy.
For further information passengers are advised to contact: – from Antigua – 1-268-480-5582; toll free from the rest of the Caribbean – 1-888-844-5428 and from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands – 1-866-549-5428.
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