Liat Air Aircraft parked at the V.C. Bird International Airport (Photo by Cory Wayland)
LIAT Air could consider adding capacity to help fill the airlift gap created by Caribbean Airlines’ withdrawal from the Tobago-Barbados route, but the Antigua-based carrier says any decision is likely still several weeks away.
Chief Executive Officer Hafsah Abdulsalam said the airline will assess passenger demand and existing capacity before deciding whether there is a viable opportunity to expand its operations into Barbados.
For September, however, such a move is not on the airline’s schedule.
“For the month of September, it is not in our plans. That I can say,” Abdulsalam told Barbados TODAY.
LIAT Air CEO Hafsah Abdulsalam (Photo Credit: Barbados Today)
She said LIAT Air could be in a better position within the next month or two to determine whether additional capacity is needed following Caribbean Airlines’ decision to discontinue its direct Tobago-Barbados passenger and cargo service from Wednesday.
“What will come up in the next month or two, based on how we assess the market and the capacity requirements of the route, then we can make a determination if we will deploy additional capacity to provide coverage that may be suitable or enough for the demand,” she said.
Caribbean Airlines announced the change as part of an effort to optimise its regional network and better align its schedule with passenger demand.
While the Tobago-Barbados service operated as BW212 and BW213 has been cancelled, the airline will continue its direct Trinidad-Barbados operations, including flights BW216 and BW448.
Caribbean Airlines Aircraft parked at the V.C. Bird International Airport (Photo by Cory Wayland)
Passengers already booked on the discontinued services are expected to be accommodated on alternative Caribbean Airlines flights operating on the same day. The carrier said affected customers would be contacted directly with updated travel arrangements.
Despite the opening created by the withdrawal, Abdulsalam said LIAT Air is cautious about adding flights to markets where there may already be sufficient capacity.
The airline is currently re-establishing its regional network, including services between Antigua and Barbados, and does not want to become involved in unnecessary competition that could leave carriers fighting over the same pool of passengers.
She pointed specifically to interCaribbean Airways, which already has a significant presence in Barbados and operates between Antigua and Barbados.
“There is no point being a head-to-head on a route that is already covered in terms of capacity, because it would just be who is leading on either side, and it’s a race to the bottom,” Abdulsalam said.
She noted that interCaribbean had established itself in several markets before LIAT Air returned and said the Antigua-based airline must carefully consider where additional services make commercial sense.
interCaribbean Airways Aircraft taxiing at the V.C. Bird International Airport (Photo by Cory Wayland)
interCaribbean Airways Chairman Lyndon Gardiner also stopped short of committing to replacing the discontinued Caribbean Airlines service.
Gardiner said his airline continually evaluates opportunities to improve regional connectivity but has no immediate plans to step into the Tobago-Barbados market.
“There are no immediate plans,” he said, noting that Caribbean Airlines’ decision was only recently announced and that launching a new service requires considerable planning.
interCaribbean Airways Chairman Lyndon Gardiner (Photo Credit: Barbados Today)
SVG Air has also ruled out immediately filling the gap because it does not currently have spare aircraft available.
Founder Paul Gravel said the carrier would nevertheless be willing to assist if approached, although it did not want to interfere with the operations of other airlines.
Meanwhile, the Barbados Chamber of Commerce and Industry said there had been no indication so far that the cancellation would significantly affect the country’s business community.
BCCI President Paul Inniss said feedback received from members had not identified any material negative impact from the schedule change.
For LIAT Air, the coming weeks are expected to provide a clearer picture of whether Caribbean Airlines’ withdrawal has created enough unmet demand to justify additional capacity, and whether the regional carrier should move to fill it.
Liat already cannot even service the routes they have now they still want to add more?