BRIDGETOWN, Mar. 18, CMC – Two rival airlines – blamed by low-cost carrier REDjet for forcing it to shut down operations temporarily – have moved in swiftly to fill the breach left by its sudden suspension on Friday while one government rebuffed its call for help.
LIAT and Caribbean Airlines, both state-owned airlines, announced in separate statements they were adjusting their schedules and putting on extra seats, while stressing that they both serve all of REDjet’s routes.
The airlines are not honouring REDjet tickets but announced “special arrangements” and “measures” as hundreds of stranded passengers region-wide demanded refunds or wait for further word from the fledgling Barbados-based carrier.
“All persons affected may contact the LIAT Call Centre to make bookings on LIAT by quoting their REDjet booking reference/confirmation number in order to be entitled to purchase a new ticket at a special fare in these unfortunate circumstances,” said a statement from island-hopper LIAT, which is owned by three Eastern Caribbean governments.
Trinidad and Tobago’s state-owned Caribbean Airlines said: “Mindful of the impact that this sudden suspension that has left passengers and families stranded, our scheduled operations will be adjusted by adding additional seats for sale. As all of their routes we already serve.”
