LIAT fire costs likely to top EC$30 million

LIAT releases preliminary estimate of losses for June 10 fire.

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, Monday June 18, 2012 – The late night blaze that cut a path of destruction through LIAT’s operations at the VC Bird International Airport on June 10 is likely to cost the legacy carrier approximately EC$35 million.

According to LIAT’s manager for corporation communications Desmond Brown, this estimate is based on currently available information for insured losses, he stated in a media release.

Brown also assured the public that the Antigua-based airline continues to maintain normal operations throughout its network and he sent a message of gratitude to the “scores of customers, well-wishers and the public in general who have called or sent messages of support to the airline following the disastrous fire.”

The June 10 fire destroyed two office blocks, an aircraft hangar and an aircraft. According to reports, the destroyed plane, registration V2-LGH, was just over 21-years-old; the oldest of three Dash-8s still in LIAT’s fleet, and it was undergoing a routine maintenance check at the time.

Fire service, emergency and law enforcement personnel have been investigating the cause of the fire, while LIAT has also stated that it was working with the investigative authorities of Antigua and Barbuda as well as the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority to determine the cause of the fire.

LIAT is owned by regional shareholders, with the major shareholders being the governments of Barbados, Antigua and Barbuda, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.  Click here to receive free news bulletins via email from Caribbean360. (View sample)