Above: a LIAT plane

By the Caribbean Journal staff

Regional carrier LIAT will be a smaller airline in 2015.

The company announced this week that, as part of its “fleet transition programme,” LIAT will be operating nine aircraft as opposed to 11 in 2014.

“Like any responsible business we have to examine our cost base and if we fly fewer aircraft in 2015 than in 2014, we also need to reduce our costs to reflect this,” said LIAT Chief Executive Officer David Evans. “We have also been mandated by our Board of Directors to ensure that our costs reflect the level of activity that we carry out.”

The company was responding in a statement to speculation about staff cuts at the carrier.

“It is too early to say what impact there may be on jobs as a result of this, and the company will consult with its staff and their representatives over its plans before making any announcement,” Evans said.