Tropical storm Chantal disrupts regional travel

Jul 10, 2013 News

Tropical Storm Chantal is forecast to move northwest through the Caribbean over the next several days. (Photo: National Hurricane Center)

Locals wishing to travel to certain islands within the region will have to keep watch now that fast-moving Tropical storm Chantal has been churning through the Lesser Antilles. The storm formed in the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend.
A tropical storm warning has been issued for St. Lucia, Barbados, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Puerto Rico, while a tropical storm watch is in effect for the U.S. Virgin Islands and parts of the Dominican Republic.
LIAT in a press release said that passengers travelling to and from Dominica, Martinique, and St. Vincent are advised that there may be disruptions at those airports depending on the progress of the tropical storm.
Persons affected by the disruptions who wish to rebook for a later flight date will be allowed to do so without change fees or fare differences for a period of one week from the date of their original scheduled travel.
LIAT says that following the one-week grace period, passengers will be required to pay applicable fare and change fees when re-booking.
The airline stated also that passengers who decide to travel but are unable to complete their journey to relevant destinations due to weather conditions, will not be provided with meals, transportation or hotel accommodation.
Others were asked to contact respective carriers for onward connections, and passengers traveling to the affected islands are asked to monitor the media for further updates.
The centre of Chantal reached the Lesser Antilles early yesterday morning. By late afternoon the storm moved into the eastern Caribbean Sea and is expected to close in on the Dominican Republic today.
Forecasters say that Chantal could reach hurricane strength before it reaches Hispaniola, the island shared by the Dominican Republic and Haiti.