treesurgeon
8th Sep 2008, 14:09
TAKEN FROM ANTIGUA SUN:
http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=311502077809082008&an=144415049909082008&ac=Local
AIRLINE SHUTDOWN …Fuel costs forcing Carib Aviation out of the skies
Monday September 08 2008
by Afeefah Beharry
The soaring cost of fuel and a series of recent unfortunate events are reportedly some of the issues which may well see Carib Aviation discontinuing its operations in Antigua and Barbuda by October.
As news of the airline’s proposed closure spread over the weekend, several officials including Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Harold Lovell have already begun exploring ways of countering the problem which is likely to have a negative impact on transportation between Antigua and the sister island of Barbuda.
Rest of th Article
Beginning of the Article
The Antigua Sun was reliably informed that management of the airline is planning to suspend all flights as of the end of September and close its operations on 5 Oct.
A few months ago, Carib Aviation announced that it would increase its fares to Barbuda via an added fuel surcharge owing to the rising fuel and insurance costs but this plan was short-lived following government’s intervention.
During a meeting held with Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, the tourism minister and management of Carib Aviation, it was decided that the airline will maintain the level of fares currently in place. The government had committed itself to give the airline an annual subsidy based on a formula which was worked out during that meeting.
The SUN understands that, not only has the escalating fuel prices been severely affecting the airline’s operations but there were some other issues Carib Aviation has been struggling to deal with recently. Due to this, some workers were reportedly laid off a few weeks ago. A number of their pilots are reportedly moving over to another airline.
While addressing the issue with this newspaper yesterday, Minister Lovell confirmed the airline has been experiencing some difficulties recently and in a correspondence to him, the airline principals expressed concerns that they were not in a position to continue operations.
“It is something that we are prepared to work on with the government of Montserrat and the private sector to see whether or not anything can be done,” Lovell told the SUN. “We are looking at the situation from a number of angles.”
Montserrat comes into the picture since Carib Aviation is the only means by which any significant group of passengers can get to the island. While a ferry runs between Antigua and Barbuda, there is no such service operating between Montserrat and Antigua.
The tourism minister further revealed that a solution to the way forward will include the management of Carib Aviation and the chief minister of Montserrat. “We will do whatever we have to do to ensure there is transportation between the two islands,” the minister affirmed.
When contacted by the SUN, CEO of Carib Aviation Frankie Francois declined to comment on the issue saying that they are still talking with the government and the matter will be detailed in a press statement that will be released to the media either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
The news of the airline’s proposed closure have already fuelled some widespread concern on the sister isle. Officials see the move affecting regular business in Barbuda, since people need to travel freely and regularly to and from the mainland. More importantly, they forecast a negative impact on the island’s burgeoning tourism sector.
Although the Barbuda Council has not been officially informed, Chairman of the Barbuda Council Fabian Jones shared his concerns with the SUN explaining that not only does Carib provide daily airlifts to and from the sister isle, it also provides a medivac service. “We have no alternative way of travelling,” Jones stated.
The council will be seeking a meeting with central government on this issue
http://www.antiguasun.com/paper/?as=view&sun=311502077809082008&an=144415049909082008&ac=Local
AIRLINE SHUTDOWN …Fuel costs forcing Carib Aviation out of the skies
Monday September 08 2008
by Afeefah Beharry
The soaring cost of fuel and a series of recent unfortunate events are reportedly some of the issues which may well see Carib Aviation discontinuing its operations in Antigua and Barbuda by October.
As news of the airline’s proposed closure spread over the weekend, several officials including Minister of Tourism and Aviation, Harold Lovell have already begun exploring ways of countering the problem which is likely to have a negative impact on transportation between Antigua and the sister island of Barbuda.
Rest of th Article
Beginning of the Article
The Antigua Sun was reliably informed that management of the airline is planning to suspend all flights as of the end of September and close its operations on 5 Oct.
A few months ago, Carib Aviation announced that it would increase its fares to Barbuda via an added fuel surcharge owing to the rising fuel and insurance costs but this plan was short-lived following government’s intervention.
During a meeting held with Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer, the tourism minister and management of Carib Aviation, it was decided that the airline will maintain the level of fares currently in place. The government had committed itself to give the airline an annual subsidy based on a formula which was worked out during that meeting.
The SUN understands that, not only has the escalating fuel prices been severely affecting the airline’s operations but there were some other issues Carib Aviation has been struggling to deal with recently. Due to this, some workers were reportedly laid off a few weeks ago. A number of their pilots are reportedly moving over to another airline.
While addressing the issue with this newspaper yesterday, Minister Lovell confirmed the airline has been experiencing some difficulties recently and in a correspondence to him, the airline principals expressed concerns that they were not in a position to continue operations.
“It is something that we are prepared to work on with the government of Montserrat and the private sector to see whether or not anything can be done,” Lovell told the SUN. “We are looking at the situation from a number of angles.”
Montserrat comes into the picture since Carib Aviation is the only means by which any significant group of passengers can get to the island. While a ferry runs between Antigua and Barbuda, there is no such service operating between Montserrat and Antigua.
The tourism minister further revealed that a solution to the way forward will include the management of Carib Aviation and the chief minister of Montserrat. “We will do whatever we have to do to ensure there is transportation between the two islands,” the minister affirmed.
When contacted by the SUN, CEO of Carib Aviation Frankie Francois declined to comment on the issue saying that they are still talking with the government and the matter will be detailed in a press statement that will be released to the media either this afternoon or tomorrow morning.
The news of the airline’s proposed closure have already fuelled some widespread concern on the sister isle. Officials see the move affecting regular business in Barbuda, since people need to travel freely and regularly to and from the mainland. More importantly, they forecast a negative impact on the island’s burgeoning tourism sector.
Although the Barbuda Council has not been officially informed, Chairman of the Barbuda Council Fabian Jones shared his concerns with the SUN explaining that not only does Carib provide daily airlifts to and from the sister isle, it also provides a medivac service. “We have no alternative way of travelling,” Jones stated.
The council will be seeking a meeting with central government on this issue