ST. JOHNS, Antigua — AFTER months of deliberations and negotiations, LIAT 2020 took to the skies today (Aug. 6) with its inaugural flight to St. Lucia.
The collapse of LIAT 1974 Ltd due to COVID-19 left a significant gap in regional air travel, resulting in limited flight options and high ticket prices, along with frequent disruptions and cancellations. Despite efforts by various airlines to fill this void, passengers have continued to face challenges.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Prime Minister, Gaston Browne, has been a strong advocate for the airline's revival, emphasizing its importance since the original airline's demise. He described the achievement of this new flight as a story of “courage, patience, and resilience” given the numerous obstacles faced.
The new venture is a partnership with Air Peace, the largest private sector airline in Africa, which has provided four aircraft necessary for the airline’s operations. Browne mentioned that an additional three aircraft are under repair, which he believes will be sufficient to meet current travel demand.
“LIAT will be a significant contributor to our country's economy. Important from the standpoint of the jobs that will be created, the airport taxes that will be generated. And it will also be very important for [the] tourism product in moving individuals between the to and from Antigua and Barbuda,” added Browne.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Tourism Minister, Charles Fernandez, highlighted the airline’s role in regional integration, emphasizing the need for better connectivity across the region. He noted past challenges, including difficulties in scheduling and last-minute flight changes, but praised the launch of LIAT 2020 for proving skeptics wrong. Fernandez mentioned that even some OECS Prime Ministers who initially doubted the venture have since offered their support.
Mrs. Hafsah Abdul Salam, CEO of LIAT 2020, reiterated that the initiative is a joint venture between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Air Peace Caribbean Limited. She described the inaugural flight as the beginning of a commitment to innovation and growth, with hopes of propelling the partnership to new heights.
“We're excited about the future and the endless possibilities it holds. Thank you to the team. Thank you to the Prime Minister, Ambassador Davin, who was here from the beginning, you know, when this was only just a mirage," Mrs. Salam said.
Prime Minister Browne emphasized that effective regional integration requires efficient movement of people, highlighting that discussions alone are not enough without practical solutions.
