Young pleased with CAL’s turnaround

NATIONAL Security Minister Stuart Young said the only way an airline like Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) can compete in the international market and profit was to acquire better stocks.

Last week CAL announced its decision to add 12 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft to its fleet. Speaking with reporters at the Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce’s Christmas dinner at the Passage To Asia restaurant on Saturday, Young said he was pleased with the airline’s financial turnaround after a decade. He also maintained that CAL was completely different to Petrotrin and TSTT.

“There is absolutely no correlation between Petrotrin workers and TSTT workers and future investments by CAL.” Young said the airline was doing a good job under its new board, adding that when state enterprises turn its own profits, the country benefitted. He said his ministry had old air assets, but they were being properly maintained. “In my discussions with some of our international allies, they have suggested that it is better to continue maintaining those aircraft, but we are looking at the possibility of leasing new aircraft.”

He said any new addition to the fleet will be “purpose specific” since they will be used for national security.

On Sunday, Oropouche East MP Dr Roodal Moonilal said he was very worried by CAL’S decision to purchase 12 airplanes.

“This is the entire fleet of Caribbean Airlines, they don’t have more than 12 airplanes.”

Moonilal also said there was no transparency in the process. “We don’t know what they went through to procure these planes. We are asking for further information and an inquiry into how and why at this time you would seek to purchase 12.” Earlier this month, CAL also announced a $96 million operating profit for the first nine months of 2018.

The new aircraft are expected to be purchased in the fourth quarter of 2019.