Antigua and Barbuda have taken a significant step towards enhancing their aviation capabilities by allocating funds into an Escrow account for the acquisition of planes owned by the Caribbean Development Bank.
The decision comes amidst preparations for LIAT 2020, the successor to LIAT (1974) Ltd., to commence operations pending the acquisition of necessary Air Operations Certificates (AOC).
Two flights have been scheduled with officials from the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) as part of the prelude to issuing the Air Operator Certificate (AOC), a prerequisite for the airline to receive authorization to fly.
The Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda approved the allocation of $12.1 million US into the Escrow account, signaling the government’s commitment to bolstering the aviation sector.
Ambassador Daven Joseph, interim chairman of LIAT 2020, has confirmed progress towards operational readiness, highlighting the scheduling of two demonstration flights for this week.
These demonstration flights, customary in aviation procedures, aim to facilitate the acquisition of the AOC in collaboration with ECCAA. One flight took off from St. Kitts on Thursday, with another departing for St. Lucia on Friday. ECCAA officials and LIAT 2020 staff were on board an ATR aircraft from the former LIAT during these flights.
Following the completion of these demonstration flights, the issuance of the AOC is expected in the near future, aligning with discussions held with ECCAA and Prime Minister Gaston Browne.
LIAT 2020, established as a joint venture with Air Peace, is poised to expand its fleet to six aircraft, with plans to add three planes from Air Peace. However, the specific timeline for the arrival of these aircraft remains undisclosed, marking a milestone in the revitalization of the region’s aviation industry.
