Rowley: No CAL fare increase

CAL’s chairman was asked a question as to what is the real cost of a ticket to Tobago.” Rowley said the chairman, during a joint select committee (JSC) public hearing this week, indicated that the cost was between $600 to $700.

However Rowley said all parliamentarians know that passengers only pay $300 per ticket on the domestic air bridge and this has been so for years. “So in fact there is a $300 subsidy on each ticket and there is nothing else that can be ascribed to the chairman of CAL to ponder,” Rowley said. The Prime Minister gave the assurance, “This Government has no intention at this time to make any fare increase.” However Rowley indicated that attention will be paid to persons, “who have been making bookings for convenience and making block bookings and not turning up at the airport...inconveniencing other travellers and wasting seats on the plane.” He said such persons may in future have to pay a cost for the inconvenience they cause to other passengers and the airline.