ST LUCIA - The St. Lucia Tourist Board (SLTB) Monday said that American Airlines had rescinded a decision to cut back on its schedule flights to the island even as Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony announced that Castries owed millions of dollars to American Eagle that is ending its services in August.

“Cognisant of the importance of airlift to the island, the SLTB continues to work with all airline partners, including American Airlines, to ensure that the island has adequate airlift which is sustainable for the island and airlines,” the SLTB said in a statement. It said that it is “happy to report that the daily service on American Airlines has been reinstated and therefore, there will be no interruption in service between Miami International Airport (MIA) and Hewanorra International Airport,” south of here.

The SLTB gave no explanation for the apparent change in position by the US-based airline even as hoteliers had previously warned that the decision would create problems for the local hospitality industry. In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony said that the decision by the former administration to spend an estimated EC$15 million (US$5.5 million) annually to support airlines flying here represented a significant amount from the annual SLTA budget.