A SICK-OUT BY LIAT pilots that affected all of its morning services yesterday left many disgusted passengers at the Grantley Adams International Airport.
The action resulted from Monday’s sacking of chairman of the Leeward Islands Pilots’ Association, Michael Blackburn.
Chester Humphrey, chairman of the unions within LIAT system,?told CMC?that the unions were prepared to join the action unless Blackburn is reinstated. He claimed Blackburn’s dismissal had been done on “spurious” grounds.
Last night LIAT?passengers, who are to travel today, were advised to go to its website for details on flights.
Yesterday travellers complained of tiredness, hunger, frustration, a lack of information and poor service from the airline’s staff.
Some said they arrived at the airport as early as 5 a.m. to travel to Dominica, St Lucia, Grenada and St Vincent, and as the clock ticked closer to noon they did not know whether they would be getting a flight out or if they would have to spend the night at the airport.
An advisory issued by corporate communications manager Desmond Brown said the sick-out was likely to affect the rest of yesterday’s flights.
Passengers were incensed that LIAT did not offer them even “a drink of water”, or facilitate phone calls to people who would have been awaiting their arrival.
They also complained that LIAT did not make any accommodations for them in any of the airport lounges or nearby facilities, forcing them to hang around in areas close to the check-in counters. (YB)
Full story in today’s MIDWEEK NATION.
