Above: a LIAT flight in Antigua

By the Caribbean Journal staff

The shareholder governments of regional air carrier LIAT have made the first down payment on six new 50-seat planes, according to St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves.

The planes are being purchased as part of the company’s Fleet Renewal programme. The first payment of $3.8 million has already been paid, and payments will continue in 2013 and 2013, Gonsalves said.

Three of the six aircraft are expected to be delivered next year.

St Vincent is one of the shareholder governments of LIAT, along with Antigua an Barbuda, Barbados.

The PM also said LIAT’s stakeholders were also considering whether to purchase 70-seat aicraft as part of the fleet expansion.