LIAT & Caribbean Star Restrictions Lifted

Finally some good news for cash strapped LIAT Airlines, compared to our recent postings . . . (Liat Not Moving to Barbados), and LIAT Strands Passengers in Barbados)

In fact, it's not only good news for LIAT, but Caribbean Star airlines as well. With the FAA restrictions lifted, this may prove to be the financial boost LIAT and its employees need to get out of the red.LIAT flys to 25 Caribbean destinations ( including Barbados) with more than 700,000 passengers per year. Linda

Airlines in the eastern Caribbean might soon increase their services to the U.S., thanks to a Federal Aviation Administration decision that has removed decade-long restrictions on their service to the country.

The FAA elevated the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority to Category 1 status from Category 2 status, which means the FAA determined the ECCAA meets international standards for safety oversight.

When the FAA places a country in Category 2 status, which the ECCAA has been in since 1996, airlines in that country cannot increase their service to the U.S, or begin new service unless they lease the aircraft and crews from a U.S. airline or an airline in a Category 1 country.

The nine-member ECCAA countries include Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The FAA Category 1 status means that regional airlines such as LIAT can increase access to U.S. destinations, and Caribbean Star can begin service to the U.S.

Linda, Travel 2 the Caribbean

Source: Travel Weekly - The National Newspaper of the Travel Industry