LIAT eyes US$54 million fleet upgrade

Shareholder governments of LIAT are seeking to update the fleet of the regional airline to the tune of US$54 million, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has announced, according to a report on www.cananews.net.



Gonsalves told journalists that the idea was discussed at a meeting with the Prime Ministers of Antigua and Barbuda and Barbados, the other shareholder governments, on Saturday morning.



\"We anticipate that we probably need US$54 million to do some fleet renewal and we discussed some ways and means of how we can possibly go,\" the Prime Minister said.



Presently, the Antigua-based carrier has a fleet of 18 Dash-8 aircraft, with 15 that have a seating capacity of 50 and three 37-seater planes.



Gonsalves said the goal is to replace the 37-seater planes with newer aircraft.



\"You know the Chinese are interested, they have given us a model for an aircraft which they would like to sell us. I know Prime Minister (David) Thompson (of Barbados) is going to mainland China in the not too distant future.



While he refused to divulge specifically how the funds for the fleet upgrade would be sourced, the St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister said LIAT\'s shareholders would explore all available options open to them.



He added that Chinese manufacturers were seeking to \"get a foot hold in the market\" and would have generous commercial terms to offer.



Saturday\'s meeting also provided shareholders the opportunity to get updates regarding other issues affecting the airline, including the ongoing row between management and pilots.