LIAT CEO says salary increase for pilots still possible

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Hours after coming under heavy criticism for his remarks on the issue of increased pay for LIAT’s pilots, the airline’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Captain Ian Brunton said the company has not made any decision on the matter.
Late Saturday, Chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) Captain Carl Burke, criticised Brunton for saying, “Pilots have asked for more money but of course, as you well know and they know, LIAT is extremely cash-strapped. Until we get the benefit of these cost reductions, which won’t take effect until 2014 or so, it’ll be difficult for LIAT to say, and be responsible, to say we can pay salary increases and that’s a problem that we face.”
Captain Burke concluded the remark suggested that LIAT had decided not to give pilots an increase, just days after making an offer to LIALPA.