On Christmas Day when many families are together with their loved ones, some persons will be heading to the Timehri airport not to meet Santa but to see whether their luggage has finally arrived in the country.
Passengers travelling with Liat from last Wednesday to Friday, originating in or in-transit through Barbados will have to wait until tomorrow to receive their luggage as the recent ‘sickout’ by flight attendants has thrown the airline’s schedule into disarray. Liat has had baggage problems for sometime.
In an advisory in yesterday’s Sunday Stabroek, the airline advised that baggage and cargo originating in or in-transit through Barbados from last Wednesday to Friday are now scheduled to arrive in Georgetown on Christmas Day. It said that changes in flight schedule as well as the cargo hold capacity limitations of the aircraft were to blame for the delay in the arrival of baggage. Passengers are asked to call 261-4352/53 for further information.
When contacted, an airline official, who spoke on condition of anonymity told Stabroek News that the recent industrial action had thrown the airline’s schedule into disarray. In addition, because flights are filled to capacity, the airline could not transport all the passengers’ luggage and some pieces were left behind.
The flight attendants’ sickout last Wednesday contributed to the situation, the official said as planes that would have been used to transport cargo were detailed to transport the stranded passengers. A flight attendants sickout last Wednesday had caused a series of cancellations and affected hundreds of passengers. Reports out of Antigua, where the airline is based said the industrial action grounded 34 of the island-hopping carrier’s 120 flights. The Antigua Sun had reported that flight attendants were upset that they had not yet received monies owed to them by the airline and their frustration worsened when they found out that contracted flight attendants were receiving higher wages
Meanwhile the airline official was unable to say whether passengers travelling after the 21st would have all their baggage on the same flight with them. He said that there were plans in place that could maybe see the luggage being brought here earlier but if not, “definitely” by Christmas Day.
Another official, who declined to give her name, said that on Christmas Day passengers will have to collect their luggage at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport. Asked whether the airline would offer compensation to the affected passengers, she said that issue would be discussed when they go to collect their baggage.
