ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Speculation is rife in Antigua that close to 200 people across the Caribbean could lose their jobs if proposed job cuts are effected at LIAT.
According to a report in today’s Antigua Observer, the regional airline could retrench as many as 185 staff members. Among the options put on the table include early retirement, voluntary severance, normal retirement, temporary layoffs and termination.
Hardest hit will be the commercial, customer experience and cargo divisions, with cuts reducing those numbers from a reported 283 to 225.
The report also stated that another 51 would go in flight operations, 50 in the engineering department and 26 in the finance, human resource and administration sections. The cargo operation will also be closed because it is too expensive to operate.
All of these measures are aimed to correct the airline’s declining financial performance.
Corporate communications specialist Desmond Brown declined to speak to the Observer, but later issued the following statement.
“Any staff cuts that may be required in order to reflect the size of LIAT’s business in the future will only be made in consultation with staff and their representatives. This process has yet to commence and therefore any speculation about the number of cuts remains just that – speculation.” (Antigua Observer/SAT/PR)
