GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne says he remains optimistic that the new inter-regional airline, LIAT 2020 will begin servicing the routes in the Caribbean within the next two months.
Browne, who is attending the 46th regular meeting of CARICOM leaders here, told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that “significant progress” has been made towards the launch of the airline that is being formed in partnership with Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013.
The new airline will replace LIAT (1974) Limited that was first established in Montserrat in 1956, but folded last month following increased debt and the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Browne told CMC that the other shareholding governments had agreed to allow Antigua and Barbuda to purchase the three aircraft “and we will be investing in the region of about US$25 million in the new initiative.
Browne said Air Peace is also making arrangements to send three Embraer 145 charter jets that should be arriving in Antigua and Barbuda within the next two weeks.
He said Antigua and Barbuda is also making available a headquarters building for the airline, describing the whole initiative “as a very significant investment.
Asked whether any regional country has shown an interest in becoming a shareholder in the new initiative, Prime Minister Browne told CMC “well, not at this point.
“I think we can start with about six aircraft and Air Peace has promised a seventh one which has a capacity of 125 seats. So all indications are the partnership with Air Peace is a strong one.
The issue of regional transportation was among matters discussed on the first full day of deliberations by regional leaders.
A statement issued by the Trinidad and Tobago government, noted that maritime transportation, specifically the imminent launch of an inter-regional cargo ferry that will operate the Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Guyana routes had been discussed.
It is expected that Suriname will be added to the ferry’s route.
The statement quoted Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley as saying that he is pleased with the level of interest generated by the decision to launch the ferry and assured that Port of Spain is committed to ensuring the commercial preparatory work is completed.
Rowley said while the Trinidad and Tobago government will facilitate the incubation of the project, it is hoped that the private sector will play an integral role in the expansion of the ferry service.
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