Tourism Minister Optimistic about Outcome of Pilots’ Strike

At a pre-cabinet press briefing on August 6, this was how Prime Minister Allen Chastanet addressed the proposed Virgin Atlantic pull-out from Saint Lucia: “We respect Virgin Atlantic and certainly our doors are open for dialogue. I’m hoping that prior to June 20 of next year we might have found an amicable solution. But in the absence of that, we’ve also moved on.”

He went on: “We’ve spoken to other carriers about increasing their airlift into Saint Lucia from the UK market and those discussions have gone extremely well. I will be leading a mission to London in early September . . . and our intention is to meet with British Airways and some of the other carriers.”  

The prime minister emphasized that the government could not agree to Virgin Atlantic’s demand for a $20 million subsidy over a three-year period to continue its London Gatwick to Hewanorra International Airport route. The British airline operates five weekly flights in the winter months, and three in the off-season summer months. 

On Monday this week, British Airways pilots began a two-day strike over a pay and benefits dispute. In a related statement, the British Airline Pilots’ Association (BALPA), the pilots’ union, stated: “The pilots, whose argument is with the company’s highly paid management and not with passengers, have walked out after earlier negotiations broke down and the company’s subsequent refusal to consider alternative proposals or get back together for further constructive talks.”

BALPA’s general secretary Mr. Brian Strutton said: “British Airways needs to wake up and realize its pilots are determined to be heard. They’ve previously taken big pay cuts to help the company through hard times. Now BA is making billions of pounds of profit. Its pilots have made a fair, reasonable and affordable claim for pay and benefits.” 

Further industrial action is planned for Friday September 27. Nevertheless, on Wednesday Tourism Minister Dominic Fedee told the STAR that the government had had an “exceptional meeting” with British Airways, details of which would be provided later. He added that there are other planned meetings with other partners in the airline, travel agent and tour operator industries, aimed at strengthening collaborations.   

On August 22 the government announced that two additional British Airways flights had been secured, which translates to 600 additional weekly seats. The flights will commence July 4, 2020 and run until August 29. Fedee said that this will help fill the void left by Virgin Atlantic, and increase British Airways’ weekly flights to Saint Lucia from seven to nine. He expressed confidence that the pilots’ strike would not affect the agreement. “It’s normal industrial relations and, based on the discussions we have had with BA, the situation is something that they expect to put under control.” 

Fedee also revealed his government will spend an extra US$1 million to beef up marketing and anticipates that 2020 will be a strong year for the UK market.