Captain Blackburn Resolution Pending

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Business News

Monday, 25 February 2013 02:30

By caribarena news

Antigua St. John's - While the Antigua-based Leeward Island Air Transport (LIAT) has announced an amicable agreement with former CEO Mark Darby, the same cannot be said for former senior pilot Michael Blackburn, who remains at loggerheads with the airline.

Earlier this week, LIAT announced a resolution with the former CEO, with all issues settled at a price of $15,000.

Darby, whose employment contract was not renewed with the airline in 2009, had claimed unlawful dismissal and filed a lawsuit demanding almost a quarter of a million dollars.

Both LIAT and Darby have reportedly agreed to withdraw their respective claims in the High Court.

But when Caribarena spoke with LIAT’s Head of Corporate Communications Desmond Brown about the status of the airline’s battles with former chairman of the Leeward Islands Airline Pilots Association (LIALPA) Michael Blackburn, nothing could be said.

Blackburn was fired over a year ago after making a series of public statements about LIAT’s operations. He immediately sought legal counsel after he was fired on December 5, 2011.

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The airline refused to speak publicly about the matter after its initial announcement of the senior’s pilot’s termination. Brown said earlier this week that nothing has changed in that regard, and the airline is still dealing with the matter. He declined to say more.

Blackburn, in his capacity as LIALPA chairman, was hugely critical of the airline’s top-heavy management structure.

Ironically, since Blackburn’s dismissal, one of the airline’s main focuses has been reducing this top-heavy structure. Significant changes have since been recorded, with an executive downsizing that has seen the airline move from 13 managers to six.

New CEO Ian Burton, a former pilot himself, told local media some time ago that the move would allow the airline to function more efficiently, allowing for improvement in both operations and finance.

Brown assured that the airline will make a statement on the Blackburn issue at an appropriate time.

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