CAL off to slow start in St. Lucia

CARIBBEAN Airlines Limited (CAL’s) new service to St Lucia is off to a bumpy start and threatens to cost taxpayers millions if the trend continues. That’s according to the findings of the Trinidad Newsday newspaper.

Flights to St Lucia, which were announced on January 19, began on February 10. Reports are that  despite promotions  including a discount price of US$92 (TT$ 580) flights to St Lucia have been virtually running empty.

The daily operating cost for a Dash-8 plane (comprising four flights) reportedly stands at around US$16,000 or TT$100,800. The failure of the St Lucia route to attract customers is all the more baffling given the fact that St Lucia remains a booming tourism destination.