Sunday, March 13, 2011

St Lucia designates Caribbean Airlines as its official carrier

The government of St Lucia has designated Caribbean Airlines (CAL) as its official carrier. The country's aviation and tourism minister, Allen Chastanet made the announcement in Port of Spain last week.

Chastanet made the disclosure following discussions with Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Works and Transport Minister Jack Warner and CAL chairman George Nicholas III.

Speaking with reporters at Parliament's Committee room on Friday, Chastanet said given CAL's suggest St Lucia is prepared to designate the Trinidad and Tobago national airline as its main carrier on its north American and London routes.

The country is giving Air Jamaica - which is now part of CAL - the North American routes, which includes 14 flights a week. CAL will have the London routes that were originally designated to BWIA.
 
Related story: St Lucia welcomes expansion of Caribbean Airlines into EC

Chastanet noted St Lucia's inter-regional traffic is down over 60,000 passengers from the year 2005, which has caused a revenue loss of about US$39 million.

Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said other Caribbean states may follow St Lucia with respect to CAL.

"I am advised there are others who are interested, but at this time because we have not had bilateral discussion on it, I would prefer not to disclose which countries may, but some of the other Eastern Caribbean airlines are interested," she said.

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Jai & Sero

Jai & Sero

Our family at home in Toronto 2008

Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai