PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – An opposition legislator has called on the government to reject the plan to buy new aircraft for Caribbean Airlines.
Dr. Roodal Moonilal, a member of the main opposition United National Congress (UNC), said the Dr. Keith Rowley administration should not go through with the “madcap plan” by taxpayer-funded CAL to purchase three new aircraft after losing hundreds of millions of dollars over the years.
“The Rowley government must reject CAL’s strategic plan and instruct the company to become financially solvent in the competitive aviation industry and to repay taxpayers for their major financial support,” Moonilal said.
According to the Opposition legislator – it is clear that CAL was trying to “fly under the radar of accountability and transparency.”
He said the plan by CAL to buy three additional Max 8 aircraft was in progress while the international industry is still cutting costs to recover from substantial financial losses during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Trinidad and Tobago’s taxpayers propped up CALL with more than $300 million during that challenging time, and the airline still needs to become profitable.
Indeed, the airline’s immediate focus should be maximizing its current fleet’s use and recovering financially from its years of devastating losses. CAL even admitted that visitor travel for Carnival in the year 2023 was significantly lower than that of 2022,” Moonilal said.
He also said the international industry is still consolidating, reviewing, and stabilizing all charges along the value chain, including cargo costs.
Further, Moonilal said it is “improper” for the airline to engage in a request for proposals for new aircraft while its strategic plan is yet to be approved.
“We must recall that on July 30, 2021, CAL retrenched 79 pilots and ascribed blame to the effects of the pandemic. Caribbean Airlines began to recognize retrenched pilots within nine months of retrenchment secretly. This decision caused an extreme roistering situation with increased demand for flights and a lack of pilots, Moonilal claimed.
He said Caribbean Airlines had created a “schedule and a chaotic situation” where pilots are expected to work on their off days and vacation to try to facilitate the flights with a lack of crew. Pilots now regularly operate red-eye flights outside the circadian clock and are expected to do so with minimal rest. Additionally, Moonilal noted that the collective agreement for pilots expired in 2015, and pilots have not had a new deal for over seven years.
“Who will operate those new aircraft when there is a pilot shortage at CAL? Pilots already complain of fatigue and severe conditions at work. CAL also sent home other staff and has become known for short-term management hiccups that cause delays and can lift risk associated with its business,” Moonilal said.
He suggested that only when CAL sees increased revenue flows should it fly high, incurring further costs and expanding its airlift.
Moonilal also advises a comprehensive assessment of CAL’s revenue, expenditure, and profit analysis before committing hundreds of millions of dollars in debt to the airline and the nation.
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