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WINAIR contract to end June 30
Travelers to Montserrat panic over bookings as GoM negotiates, Montserrat Airways feel rejected by Bennette Roach April 11, 2008
Last weekend and shortly after Chief Minister Dr. Lewis had responded to a question in a post-budget interview regarding the airline service into Montserrat, WINAIR officials announced that they had received word that the Government of Montserrat (GoM) had advised that their contract to service Montserrat will not be renewed after June 30, 2008. Dr. Lewis had shied away from the issue, and said he would prefer the respective Ministry respond to the matter as they are working as a team. He said however, "Government is actively working to see that we have reliable service into Montserrat for the foreseeable future." Following this the news came from WINAIR out of St. Martin and about the non-renewal of the contract and later news that a Government negotiation team which included two Ministers and the Montserrat Tourist Board, had been in negotiations in Antigua with LIAT and Carib Aviation. Contact and information from officials have been difficult and they have remained tight-lipped on information except to say that, ‘that discussions are on-going with LIAT and Carib Aviation.' It is believed that GoM had to give WINAIR three months notice of their intention. The result is that some measure of panic has set-in as travelers to Montserrat began to discover that they no longer have a booking or are unable to make bookings beyond June 30, 2008.
Meanwhile Montserrat Airways, who in November last year said it needed an estimated $400,000 start-up capital to provide alternative air service in 2008, to help Montserrat become self-sufficient in its air transportation requirement, has said this week, "The Montserrat Airways proposal to GOM & MDC is still awaiting a decision." Montserrat Airways said it had been in contact with GoM, but there seems to be some confusion as to their position. Captain Nigel Harris of Montserrat Airways said, "We remain willing to work with Carib, or work as a separate entity, to provide additional support for Montserrat," and also "We sincerely hope that you do not close the door to what we believe is a long term benefit to the economy and social needs of Montserrat." A note to the CM urged: "Irrespective as to whether a Carib/Liat proposal has been accepted by you, I would urge you to also support Montserrat Airways." He said since the company's proposal seeking equity funding, they had written to the new Minister of Communications and Works reminding of the services a locally owned air service can provide such as "Air ambulance; freight, day trippers, frequency and fares, working actively alongside MTB to promote tourism." Harris explains: "We made our original proposal to the GOM in August 2007 asking for EC$850,000 in return for equity. Additionally on the advice of DFID we asked the MDC last November for EC$250,000, again in return for equity. This is a total of EC$1.1mio which has always been and remains our position.
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| Comments: WINAIR contract to end June 30 |
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Interesting news
| Posted: 2008-04-16 11:29:00 AM | |
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Sounds like something will be done which is nice. I'm cool with taking boats as those tiny planes scare me a little :) I remember flying Liat as a child into Montserrat.
Anyways I'm heading to Montserrat in August and hopefully it won't cost me a 600 dollar boat ride :)
I'm extremely excited and hopefully things will pan out sooner then later. | ||
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INDEED A BOLD STEP NOT TO BE BOWLED
| Posted: 2008-04-16 09:21:00 AM | |
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i can see this as a bold step
kudos to montserrat | ||
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ferry to cover interim travel to montserrat
| Posted: 2008-04-17 05:22:00 AM | |
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Why not have the ferry to cover the interim travelling to and from Montserrat, while the airlines are getting sorted out? After reading that Winair's contract has not been renewed, it will be utter chaos, for people like myself from the UK wanting to visit. People are being kept away because theres no other viable means of reaching Montserrat, the ferry, I feel will be a good solution. | ||
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Ferry in the summer
| Posted: 2008-04-17 4:56:00 PM | |
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I agree with the ferry in the summer. Although i think they were running in the red which is a bummer.
So that might not work. I assume tourism is way down in the summer | ||
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And Now for the Rules...
| Posted: 2008-04-17 9:03:00 PM | |
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Fare
- All LIAT fares are ONE-WAY and are exclusive of surcharges, fees and taxes.
- This fare is non refundable. Name changes not permitted online. changes are permitted by calling the LIAT Call Centre 1 888-844-LIAT(5428) or 1 866 549 5428 (LIAT) for a fee of USD 25.00
- Cancellations & Rebooking: Reservations may be changed prior to schedule departure online at www.liatairline.com at a fee of USD 20.00or by calling 1888 844 LIAT 95428) or 1 866 549 5428 (LIAT) at a fee of USD 25.00. Any applicable difference in air fare will apply.
- Cancellation may be made by calling 1888 844-LIAT(5428) or 1 866 549 5428 (LIAT) for a fee of USD 25.00 per sector. If change or cancellation result in overpayment any remaining balance will become a credit with LIAT and may be applied to future travel for one year. The credit can only be applied to bookings for the passenger (s) it was created for.
- If a reservation made with this fare is not changed or cancelled 3 hours prior to scheduled departure, all money associated with this fare is forfeited.
- Combinability: All fares are one- way and are combinable. If travelling round trip we advise you to have your itinerary at check-in. Proof of return or onward travel is required to check-in. Failure to provide proof of return could result in denied boarding.
- Travel on LIAT: If booking online or Travel Agency or LIAT ticket offices a print of your itinerary and amount paid should be obtained.
- This fare is capacity controlled. Seats offered at this fare are limited and may not be available on all flights.
- All fares are subject to change until purchased.
Conditions of Travel
LIAT is now a low cost carrier and as a consequence does not provide flight connections or baggage transfer to other carriers. It is the passenger's responsibility when making bookings to allow adequate time for baggage collection and rechecking if connecting to another carrier. We recommend at least 150 minutes between international connecting flights.
Passengers should check-in two hours before departure time. Passengers arriving at check-in less than forty five minutes before the scheduled departure time of the flight may be denied boarding.
With effect from 01 July, 2007 the free baggage allowance for all LIAT services will be a maximum of 50 lbs (23 kgs.) per adult or child passenger. The allowance may be contained in up to two pieces of baggage, with the maximum overall size per piece being 62 inches (157 cms).In addition passengers will be allowed one piece of cabin baggage inclusive of a laptop at a maximum weight of 15 lbs.(7 kgs.) and maximum overall dimensions of thirty-six inches (36ins) or ninety one centimeters (91 cms.) Additional small personal items will be carried free of charge. Please see our website (http://www.liat.com/baggage_policy.html) for details.
List of items in check-in baggage for which LIAT bears no liability.
-Valuables/fragile items (including but not limited to, money, jewellery, precious metals, cameras, computers, personal electronic devices)
-Important/valuable documentation (including but not limited to, Business documents, passports, negotiable papers, securities, deeds)
-Electronic goods, cosmetics, perfumes
-Perishables including seafood, meats and vegetables.
-Medicines and medical equipment
-House or car keys
-Items prohibited for carriage by applicable law or applicable IATA/ICAO rules and regulations.
All passengers, including children and infants must present their passport or acceptable official identity card and other travel document at check-in. It is your responsibility at all times to have appropriate travel documentation and entry permits, such as visas.
With the completion of this transaction, you are deemed to have read, understood and accepted all of our terms & conditions of contract that appear on our website. (http://www.liatairline.com/policies.html)
As used in this contract, ticket means either the document titled Passenger Ticket and Baggage Check or the document titled Itinerary/Receipt issued by the carrier or on its behalf and, if applicable, a boarding document; carriage is equivalent to transportation; carrier means all air carriers that carry or undertake to carry the passenger or his or her baggage hereunder or perform any other service, incidental to such air carriage; Warsaw Convention means that Convention for the Unification of Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air signed at Warsaw on 12th October 1929, or that Convention as amended at The Hague, 26th September 1955, whichever may be applicable.
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Concerned
| Posted: 2008-04-21 1:28:00 PM | |
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What will become of us from the United Kingdom who have prebooked our flights with Winair for the Christmas Season? We are anxious to know what provisions will be made. Did The Government Consider this? | ||
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Bridge
| Posted: 2008-04-21 6:54:00 PM | |
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Is it too much to ask for a 40 mile (km) Bridge :)
Just joking | ||
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winair
| Posted: 2008-04-21 11:23:00 PM | |
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Here we go again, when is everybody going to get it, the plane will be flying this a yearly threat and ploy, please smarten up people. | ||
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Mrat Government
| Posted: 2008-04-22 05:42:00 AM | |
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They don't think about ne1 else but theirselves and their monthly salary, so just hope that they sort out this stress before christmas 2008 comes...........You were all warn! | ||
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Re Winair
| Posted: 2008-04-23 4:01:00 PM | |
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Re the "Ploy". You don't get it . The Montserrat Government Team on this (Reuben and Charles)have basically told WINAIR to get lost and have managed to get LIAT and Carib Aviation fighting each other over which gets the most money out of doing the route.The fight has been going on since at least the 2nd of April 2008. 21 days so far.Thus no word out of them yet. | ||
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bridge too far
| Posted: 2008-04-24 09:04:00 AM | |
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A bridge to montserrat? why not?, England has a bridge that links it to Scotland and a tunnel to france, and they work well. So the flying arrangements still not been sorted,this might take time, pity those who have paid their fares, i was about to, when i read winair contract with montserrat was about to expire. Just pray that nobody needs emergency treatment and what about the mail? Are people getting their letters??
I hope for the people of Montserrat plus the tourists that things will be resolved soon. | ||
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winair contract
| Posted: 2008-04-24 08:01:00 AM | |
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I haven't been home for Christmas since 1989 and considering the circumstances enjoyed myself just the same. I submitted my vacation request for 2008 in November and I am glad it w2as granted.Now, I'm anxious about the possibility of being able to spend a month away from this cold country. With fuel costs rising I decided to begin looking at fares for the first leg of the trip before seeing the ANU-MRAT portion knowing the uncertainty and fragile state of affairs of travel into and out of M'rat. Well, after reading this article I'm having doubts about coming home. I know that operating the ferry could be expensive but I believe would be the best way o accomodate the number of travelers coming down for Christmas season. "Maybe me should post me self in a de barrel me a go sen down." | ||
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Travel to Montserrat
| Posted: 2008-05-06 1:26:00 PM | |
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Has there been any news of what will happen after June 30 - are talks still continuing with Liat and others?
I can't wait to come back to Montserrat for a second visit - you have a beautiful island . | ||
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The Air Rights Saga
| Posted: 2008-05-08 00:53:00 AM | |
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In re: to WINAIR Lost Contract.
I am neither disappointed nor surprised this has happened. My mother has been traveling back and forth to Montserrat and its stressing knowing that each time there is always issues with WINAIR. They are incompetent at handling the needs of their travelers. I think the Christmas 2007 travel issue(s) was the last straw. Obviously, if any business is unable to provide adequate service to "paying customers" they should not be in business.
In re: to the LIAT / CARIB negotiation(s) w/ the entitlement to air-rights. I think we should all sit patient and see what happens. I've never been a fan of LIAT but I rather take their planes, for they have sizable planes and decide fleet available. I personally don't like these small WINAIR planes, so the bigger the plane the better for me (personal opinion).
Anyhow, I hope the MRAT authority makes the right decision and save their dignities --- making sure people have safe and respectable travel options in and out of MRAT!
Best.. | ||
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