Industrial Action at Hewanorra Airport Deeply Concerns IATA

Workers of the sole ground handlers at the Hewanorra International Airport staged an apparent sickout on Saturday 1st February, 2025. Flight delays and cancellations caused major disruptions to several airline operations at the island’s lone international airport. The Port Authority, St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, has apologised for the disruption and noted that most flights were accommodated with the combined support of senior personnel and other stakeholders.

International Air Transport Association, IATA late Saturday issued a statement expressing deep concern about the situation and is “pressing the Civil Aviation Authority to implement immediate contingency measures”. The statement reads as follows:

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) raised deep concerns today related to the severe disruption caused to airline operations at Saint Lucia’s Hewanorra International Airport (UVF) following today’s labor action by the airport’s sole ground handling provider. Reports indicate that 80% of the company’s staff called in sick, leading to widespread operational delays and flight cancelations. 

Today’s lack of adequate ground services has significantly disrupted airline schedules, inconvenienced passengers, and damaged confidence in Saint Lucia’s sole aviation gateway. Relying on one single ground handling service provider at UVF has further exacerbated the situation, leaving no alternative solutions for airlines and travelers. 

“IATA is pressing the Civil Aviation Authority and airport authorities to implement immediate contingency measures to restore normal operations and minimize disruption,” said Peter Cerdá, IATA’s Regional Vice President for the Americas. “We are also seeking direct engagement with the Ministers of Transport and Tourism to ensure a swift resolution to this labor dispute and to discuss long-term reforms to prevent such vulnerabilities in the future.” 

IATA firmly believes that diversifying ground handling service providers at UVF is essential to improving operational resilience and protecting airline and passenger interests. Reliance on a single provider creates an unnecessary risk to the aviation sector, as demonstrated by today’s events.  IATA urges authorities to take swift and decisive action to resolve this crisis and to implement structural changes that will safeguard the reliability and efficiency of Saint Lucia’s aviation industry moving forward.