The Port-of-Spain to London route will not be aborted because of the losses made by Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) in the last financial year, said its chairman Rabindra Moonan. The route is on schedule to take off on June 14. During last Friday’s sitting of Parliament, Finance Minister Winston Dookeran said CAL had sustained a loss of US$52.8 million.
In e-mailed responses to the T&T Guardian, Moonan said the management of CAL planned to capitalise on the upcoming 2012 Olympics in London but also would ensure it also operated in a cost-effective manner. He added: “Sales have begun and we will market the route aggressively over the upcoming months. We have a responsibility to address the needs of the consumer and this gateway is yet another option for connecting the region.
“The commencement of the London route is quite timely as we take advantage of the demands for Caribbean travel to Olympics 2012.” Asked if there would be further cuts in CAL’s overall budget, given its huge loss, Moonan said: “We will continue to manage the budget with a focus on cost efficiencies in all areas.
“We have a responsibility to the consumers and the economy to ensure they are confident the finances are well-managed.” Given that the expectation was increased sales owing to the Olympics, no decision had been made to buy additional aircraft, he added.
Moonan, who received his instrument of appointment on April 19, will attend his first board meeting today. He does not view the rest of 2012 as a huge challenge for CAL. He said: “The airline industry is a challenging environment. Caribbean Airlines is not unique to these external threats as the cost of operating an airline continues to increase.
“We are in a very competitive environment and remain focused on maintaining the loyalty and confidence of our customers. “The demand for travel remains strong and we are optimistic this positive momentum will continue throughout 2012,” he added.
Source: www.guardian.co.tt
By Nadaleen Singh