LIAT CEO Ian Brunton resigns

(Trinidad Guardian) – The Antigua Observer is reporting that Leeward Island Air Transport (LIAT) chief executive officer Ian Brunton has resigned.

LIAT is a regional air carrier based in Antigua. LIAT’s three main shareholder governments are Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados and St Vincent & the Grenadines.

Brunton, a former chief executive of Trinidad & Tobago state owned Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) was appointed CEO of LIAT on August 1, 2012.

His appointment came during a period of massive sustained losses for the airline – a combined amount of almost EC$80 million in losses from 2010 – and a deficit of around EC$344 million by the end of 2012. Brunton has been leading a US$100 million re-fleeting process from ageing Dash-8 aircraft to ATR’s – which is designed to help move the airline back into profit by lowering maintenance and fuel costs.

Prime Minister of St Vincent & the Grenadines Ralph Gonsalves commended Brunton for making a good contribution to LIAT and said it would be hard to find a replacement if the resignation is accepted.

According to the Observer, Brunton resigned last week and the LIAT Board of Directors is to meet this Wednesday to make a decision on whether to accept it or not.

The St Vincent & the Grenadines Prime Minister refused to say whether, as the head of a shareholder government, he will accept the board’s decision on Brunton’s resignation.