Caribbean Airlines Ltd is looking to begin service in SVG and compete with LIAT, which is currently this country’s major regional air travel provider. How do you think this competition will affect persons travelling to and from SVG?

Fri Mar 28, 2013

Andrew Williams – It would affect St Vincent in a positive way, especially with the coming of the Argyle international airport. It would help in the tourism development. We know that we are trying to get investors to come to St Vincent and the Grenadines as well, economic development in the long term.{{more}}

We have currently been having problems with LIAT in terms of arrival and departure. With competition, I think they will step up their game. In the international world, there is always competition and it is something we have to welcome and we have to learn to work with change. I think it’s a positive step for St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Jillian Spring – I think it will be good. [Normally}, I coming from Canada or somewhere and I have to take a flight from Barbados to St Vincent at a certain time and I have to be there two, three hours waiting. So, I don’t think it is a bad idea. It will be good.

Julius Sherman – I believe it will be better because increased competition might cause them to draw back on their prices and their customer service; that will be better because they won’t want people travelling with the other airline. Especially for we, real people does be trapped in Barbados. I feel it will be beneficial.

Jawanza Phillips (no photo) – Competition in any business is always good, first thing first; and with the lot of delays we’re getting with LIAT, maybe they will pull their socks up. Hopefully the competition will do us some good.

Sydney Joseph – LIAT alone, being that they alone control, negligence is in play because they had no competition. Now, with Caribbean Airlines in play, they either buckle up or buckle out. Most times, when you see an increase in anything competitive, it will always bring out the best in competitors. So, I feel it will be good, especially for the travelling public. I feel that is an A plus for Vincentian travellers and the diaspora. It’s a plus.

Anthony McDowall – LIAT, in relation to where you have persons losing their luggage, the delayed flight, so on and so forth. A lot of persons have been complaining in relation to – they refer to it as basically unprofessional. It may be because of matters beyond LIAT’s control or management issues. Bringing on stream the new airline, I think that it could be beneficial, where in a time like this where people are having it difficult financially, a little competition might help to ease the price, the rate for travel throughout the Caribbean. Then again, if the competition, in my mind, will bring LIAT to the point where they say “OK, we have somebody competing with us, so we have to step up on our professionalism.”