Air Traffic Controllers cripple airlift in and out of Antigua

By L.K. Hewlett
Editor- SKNVibes.com

Basseterre, St. Kitts- Air Traffic Controllers (ATC) workers in Antigua have reportedly initiated a ‘Slow Control’ of operations this past weekend, which has resulted in mass delays and cancellations for LIAT and all other airlines flying in and out of the island.

SKNVibes spoke with LIAT CEO Mark Darby who said as far as he understood, the ‘Slow Control’ action began Friday afternoon (Dec. 19) when the ATCs began restricting the number of aircraft allowed to land and take off at Antigua’s V.C. Bird International Airport. Antigua serves as the operational hub for the regional carrier and as such, he said the effects on LIAT’s business have been “disastrous”.

“Over this past weekend we began experiencing substantial delays to many of our flights and we ended up having to cancel quite a few flights. We have incurred considerable losses as we’ve been paying for hotels, meals transportation for those passengers affected by this action.

“It’s not just substantial financial losses being incurred as a result of this but it it’s also a loss of reputation. We are doing our best to get LIAT back on the straight and narrow and every time there’s something like this, it really sets us back.”

Regarding whether the airline had issued any notices to the travelling public, Darby explained that there had be no official notice from Air Traffic Controllers so it was difficult to know what was going on other than “we are experiencing severe delays”. He also said he was not aware of any work-related issues being experienced by the ATCs that may have led to any form of industrial action. ~~Adz:Right~~

“Air Traffic Controllers have denied it’s any form of industrial action. They have said it was undertaken due to the increase in the number of flights coming in this time of year. As far as I’m aware there has been no substantial increase in the number of flights at this time; probably the level of activity in Antigua is less than we had in the summer and we didn’t experience any problem then.”

The LIAT executive said the level of air traffic activity during this same period last year was about the same and there was no ‘Slow Control’ imposed.

Darby addressed rumours that earlier claimed the recent problems were a result of the ongoing dispute between LIAT management and the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA).

“All of our staff is now aware of what’s going on and they are doing their best to cope but whoever’s fault it is I suspect LIAT is getting the blame. But this problem has been affecting all carriers using V. C. Bird Airport. British Airways and Virgin have been delayed as well. Air Canada couldn’t get out of here last night and had to put all their passengers in hotels until this morning when they were able to fly out.”

Darby assured that the LIAT staff is functioning as normal and is handling the situation as best it could in light of the situation. With no official announcement being made by Air Traffic Controllers, the travelling public flying in and out of Antigua or have connecting flights on the island this season can expect to experience long departure waits and lay-overs as well as unscheduled flight cancellations.