(TrinidadGaurdian)Scenes of frustration and chaos erupted at the Piarco International Airport and the ANR Robinson International Airport early yesterday after dozens of Caribbean Airlines flights were delayed or cancelled. The situation stemmed from what the airline called “cockpit crew constraints” after pilots called in sick just three hours before their flights were due to leave. However, the pilots association denied there was any sickout action.
In all over 30 flights were cancelled, with passengers travelling between Tobago to Trinidad forced to use the inter-island ferry to make their way back home.
Hundreds of passengers who were scheduled to travel to international destinations including Miami, Orlando, Ft Lauderdale, New York and Canada; regional Guyana, Barbados and St Lucia were left visibly angry and perplexed.
There were reports yesterday morning of industrial action by CAL pilots, however, the airline’s corporate communications manager Dionne Ligore, when contacted, referred Guardian Media to its first statement which read, “Caribbean Airlines advises that there are disruptions to its operations for August 20 due to cockpit crew constraints. The airline is experiencing delays and cancellations to many of its international and domestic services. Affected customers are being advised and will be re-accommodated on the first available services.”
But by 6 pm, CAL issued another statement which gave a different picture as to what actually took place.
It stated: “There has been a remarkably high volume of calls from pilots reporting that they are unwell and unable to report for duty. These calls came in at approximately three hours prior to flight departure times. It is to be noted that the airline is currently in negotiations with the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association over a collective agreement for the period 2015-2016.”
It added, “As a result of the sick calls, Caribbean Airlines has had to cancel several flights.”
CAL’s Reservations Service Centre was severely crippled and it also issued a statement which read, “We are currently experiencing a high volume of calls on our reservations sales and customer support phone lines resulting in longer than usual wait times. We are working diligently to assist customers as quickly as possible.”
By yesterday evening, CAL said the centre was actively working to contact all affected customers.
An airline source told Guardian Media that pilots had become disgruntled after they were reportedly told by management that they are to face a 20 per cent cut in their salaries. That information was not confirmed by CAL.
However, as news of the purported sickout action among pilots spread, the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association issued its own statement, fervently rebutting allegations of a strike or sickout saying that it was “unaware of any strike action being taken by the pilot body.”
It added that in accordance with Section 67(2) of the Industrial Relations Act, Chapter 88:01 the pilot body and its members are barred from taking such industrial action since any employer or worker engaged in an essential service is barred from taking industrial action.
The association added it has assured the public that “its members continue to fly with their safety and best interests at heart.”
Passengers under pressure
Speaking with Guardian Media on Sunday morning at the Piarco International Airport, Nick Baptiste of Tunapuna said flight cancellations for two of his relatives caused much distress.
“Last night ‘(Saturday) my sister-in-law’s flight was delayed 12 hours citing ‘crew problems’. My mom’s flight to Tobago this morning (Sunday) was also cancelled for the same reason.
“They said the last six flights did not leave and there is the same amount of backlog before she can get a flight. All CAL flights cancelled on the departure board. We are in the airport and we also inquired about the delayed Canada flight and now told its cancelled, same crew problems and no further explanation,” he added.
Baptiste’s sister-in-law’s flight was to Toronto, “she checked another airline because she has to return to work tomorrow and it’s costing her $15,000. So she’s back home with us to wait and see what’s going to happen next with Caribbean Airlines,” he explained.
Baptiste said his mother was told that “Caribbean Airlines officials informed stranded passengers that they arranged a boat to Tobago for them, however, no transportation was offered to the boat. All five flights of people have to find their own way to Port-of-Spain. My mother decided not to go to Tobago again.”
Another passenger whose flight to Florida was cancelled said that she was not told about any compensation or refund. She said she worked as a flight attendant and was due to return to work.
Stefan Lewis, a domestic passenger out of ANR Robinson International Airport said his flight back to Trinidad was supposed to be at 7.30 am yesterday.
“I got a late notification at 2 am saying that my flight pushed back to 11 am only to reach at the airport and was told all morning and afternoon flights have been cancelled and then CAL said they will be switching our tickets to ferry tickets but we will have to find our way to the Port.
“Through a contact I have at the Tobago House of Assembly I told them the situation and they arranged for maxis to come pick us up for 12 to take us to the Port. Hats off to them as CAL did nothing for us,” Lewis said.
At about 2.30 pm Caribbean Airlines issued an advisory telling passengers affected by cancellations not to come to the airport. The airline also informed that all travellers will be contacted when flights are back on.
CAL also stated that passengers on the domestic route were being re-routed to the Tobago ferry. It added that passengers with valid airline tickets were being accommodated.
When contacted via WhatsApp, for a comment about the massive flight disruption, Minister of Finance Colm Imbert read the question (as the blue ticks appeared) however, up to late yesterday evening, there was no response.
UPDATE: Late yesterday evening CAL issued another advisory stating that recovery flights were available for affected Miami/Fort Lauderdale passengers.
The release stated that chartered services will operate from Miami to accommodate passengers.
Passengers on BW 483 Miami to POS will be facilitated on G6604, while BW 481 Fort Lauderdale to POS will be transported on G6606. The flights will operate from Miami International Airport. Chartered services will also operate to move BW 484 and BW 480 affected passengers out of Trinidad.
Cancelled international flights on Sunday
BW 216- ↓Trinidad/Barbados/Ogle, Guyana
BW 217- ↓Ogle, Guyana/Barbados/Trinidad
BW 238- Trinidad to Ogle, Guyana
BW 239- Ogle, Guyana to Trinidad
BW 434- Trinidad to St Lucia
BW 435- St Lucia to Trinidad
BW 445- Barbados to Trinidad
BW 480- Trinidad to Fort Lauderdale
BW 481- Fort Lauderdale to Trinidad
BW 482- Trinidad to Orlando
BW 483- Miami to Trinidad
BW 484- Trinidad to Miami
BW 485- Orlando to Trinidad
BW 520- Trinidad to New York
BW 521- New York to Trinidad
BW 526- Trinidad/Guyana/New York
BW 600- Trinidad to Toronto
BW 601- Toronto to Trinidad
BW 602- Trinidad to Toronto
BW 603- Toronto to Trinidad
BW 3448- Trinidad to Barbados
BW 212- Trinidad/Tobago/Barbados
BW 213- Barbados/Tobago/Trinidad
Cancelled domestic flights on Sunday
BW1500/1501 BW1502/1503
BW1506/1507 BW 1508/1509
BW1514/1515 BW1520/1521
BW1522/1523 BW1524/1525
BW1526/1527 BW1528/1527
BW1530/1531 BW1532/1533
BW1534/1535 BW1540/1541
