LIAT accepts resignation of CEO

The regional airline, LIAT, said Wednesday that it had accepted the resignation of its chief executive officer, Ian Brunton.

The brief statement, which gave no reason for Brunton's resignation, also announced the appointment of Julie Reifer-Jones to act in the position.

Brunton, a Trinidadian, was hired as CEO on August 1 last year.

Brunton, whose resig-nation takes effect from October 1, had been spearheading LIAT's US$100-million re-fleeting programme.

Last month, LIAT signed a US$65-million loan with Caribbean Development Bank to finance the purchase of new, French-made ATR aircraft.

The fleet modernisation project involves the replacement of LIAT's ageing fleet of Canadian-made Bombardier Q400s and de Havilland Dash-8 planes with ATRs, through a combination of lease and purchase of aircraft; the transition costs associated with the changeover; the upgrade of maintenance facilities and other institutional-strengthening activities.

LIAT flies to 21 destinations in the Caribbean.