CAL flights reinstated after runway work delayed
(CNS): Cayman Airways says it has been able to reinstate some of the flights it had cancelled because of the planned work on the runway at Owen Roberts International Airport now that the work has been postponed. But it appears none of the other airlines that would normally be flying into Cayman on Tuesdays over the next two months have reinstated the flights they had to cancel.
Officials from CAL said they and other airlines had been forced to cancel flights from late Monday night to early Wednesday morning runway every week throughout September and October during the planned shutdown of the airport, and they had altered the schedules to accommodate passengers.
However, after the Cayman Islands Airport Authority announced two weeks ago that it was postponing the runway work, Cayman Airways re-introduced as many Tuesday flights as possible.
Given the short notice about the change in plans, not all flights could be reinstated to the normal schedule and will be operated at different times. Tuesday flights to Miami and Jamaica have been added, along with securing domestic service between Grand Cayman and Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
“Coming out of the effort to change our schedule and accommodate those passengers who had booked travel on Tuesdays, there are now some challenges in trying to re-introduce flights with a limited booking window,” Paul Tibbetts, Executive Vice President of Finance and Commercial Affairs, explained.
“Seats on flights are generally sold across a long span of time, generally up to a year. With weeks instead of months to sell, we are therefore cognizant of the fact that many of the re-introduced Tuesday flights will likely go out with light loads. However, we are mindful that for the next two months, Cayman Airways will provide the only connection between the Cayman Islands and the rest of the world on Tuesdays, once again underlying the airline’s importance to our islands,” he added.
The airport authority has still not responded to CNS enquiries sent some two weeks ago about the changes to this next phase of the airport expansion project. In a release earlier this month officials from the airport pointed to problems with negotiations between them and the contractors for the work outside the terminal.
A contract had been awarded, according to the government’s central procurement website, but the tender and related notice of the award was recently removed from the site, even though some of the work is still scheduled to happen.
- Fascinated
- Happy
- Sad
- Angry
- Bored
- Afraid
Category: Business, Local News, Transport
About time Mr Anderson issued a public apology for his poor judgement that has resulted in the chaos with the “enhanced” terminal and now the runway extension.
Somebody needs to be fired here. This is a monumental mistake that someone needs to be held accountable for.
I agree 100%. But nothing will happen and nobody will take responsibility. This is the worst CIAA Board and management in years.
another glorious mess by our ‘world class’ civil service…….zzzzzzzzzzz
Decco will get this done cheaper than anyone!
This propaganda bullsi[ from CIAA and government is quite beyond belief.
And Alden wants to build a dock!!!! ‘
Also, did they steal the design drawings from the turtle shell ice rink?
The incompetence of the CIAA is monumental. In any normal country heads would roll for the fiasco with the terminal upgrade and now this incredible situation that has led to all the overseas airlines cancelling flights on eight consecutive Tuesdays, causing them and their passengers immense disruption and expense.
“What a mess” is descriptive but a massive understatement. If public confidence is to be restored in our national airport, senior management needs to be replaced.
We need a statement from the Premier on what will be done to remedy this appalling situation.
It was always grotesquely irresponsible and completely illogical to plan to close the airport. Someone should be sacked for this.
cig and the civil service don’t do sackings…..
Just promotions and gravy train settlements.
Let’s pave the runway every Tuesday smack In the middle of the peak of hurricane season. Makes perfect sense.
So what they should have planned this in the middle of the tourist season? This was and still is the best plan as this work HAS to be done!
I don’t know about you but have you noticed it’s always the peak tourist season these days?
Just like any government training is always ‘rigorous’ or ‘intense’.
Define “tourist season”.
And for those who don’t recall, the previous runway projects going back 30 years involved nighttime operations and there was no closure lasting 30+ hours.
The best plan is just as they did it last time. At night!
anywhere else this work would be done at night
The silence of CIAA is indicative of their ineptitude. More of this to come in every project the CIG and its Authorities engage in the future. Can’t wait to see the Auditor General’s report on this one.
What a mess …………
Then we have the 737 Max-8 Mess..
Radio silence on that one in the cockpit ..
Crickets chirping…