by CAROL MARTINDALE

EXTRA FLIGHTS and special promotions are the way to go for regional airlines in an attempt to boost travel for Cricket World Cup.

LIAT (1974) Ltd launched a last-minute Easter promotion from Thursday, while Caribbean Airways (formerly BWIA) has put on extra flights in response to demand.

Barbados is set to host the first Super 8 match at the spanking new Kensington Oval on Wednesday.

Chief commercial officer at LIAT, Leesa Parris told the SUNDAY SUN they were offering 35 per cent discounts on selected flights from various points in the region.

"We are taking it on a day-by-day basis. We have extra segments that we would have put on for the Antigua and Guyana legs and we are putting on flights based on the demand we are getting."

Parris said the airline did record some overbookings, adding thatthe flights were indeed full.

Based on demand

However, she said, LIAT had a system in place at their call centre that would allow callers giving their names and addresses to be wait-listed for flights. "Based on that demand, we will decide if we need to put on extra flights."

Parris said they had already put on extra segments for the match in Antigua as well as some for those in Guyana.

Noting that business was looking "pretty favourable", Parris added that LIAT had the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association link on its website. "Passengers looking to get into Barbados can hit that link and go on to get accommodation," she said.

Manager of corporate affairs at Caribbean Airways, Dionne Ligoure, said its flights were full. That airline has put on extra flights to cope with the demand, she said. Ligoure said they had an addtional 2 500 seats for the duration of Cricket World Cup with 100 extra flights.

"These were to meet the increases in places like Barbados, Jamaica, St Lucia, Bermuda and St Kitts," she added.

*carolmartindale@nationnews.com