The strike on Tuesday, (6th December, 2011), by LIAT pilots could not have come at a more inconvenient time, when the demand for travel is starting to increase, ahead of the busy shopping Holiday Season. Yesterday’s action left thousands of passengers across the Caribbean, including St. Kitts and Nevis, stranded and without any clarity about their future travel plans on the airline.
In an advisory from LIAT, issued at 9:30am, on Tuesday, travellers were informed that all pilots who were scheduled to work that day, called in sick.
Therefore, as a result of the industrial action, said LIAT, all of the company’s morning services were disrupted, and was likely to affect all other flights for the day. It did.
The release went on to say that all customers who have been affected by the disruptions and who wish to re-book, will be allowed to do so without charge for the period of one week, from the date of their original scheduled travel.
LIAT continued, “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 industrial action, at their request, will be credited a future travel. Terms and Conditions apply.”
The management also stated, “When the service resumes, affected passengers are advised to contact LIAT Reservations to rebook before proceeding to the airport. LIAT also wishes to advise that passengers who decide to travel but are unable to complete their jobs due to the disruption, will not be provided with meals, transportation and hotel accommodation. Passengers with onward connections are advised to contact their respective carriers.”
Meantime, the LIAT counters at the Robert Bradshaw International Airport were again empty today, Wednesday, as they were during the course of Tuesday.
Some passengers did show up at the airport, apparently unaware of the industrial action.
