By Carlena Knight
There is still no exact word on when Antigua Airways will launch its commercial flights.
The airline is a partnership between the government of Antigua and Barbuda and Nigerian investors, and marks the twin island nation’s first direct air connection to West Africa.
Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office Lionel ‘Max’ Hurst explained during Thursday’s post-Cabinet press briefing that there is still some delay with the acquisition of a specific licence the carrier needs before it can fly commercially.
“They have sought to get something called an AOC [Air Operator Certificate] which is a licence which will permit them to operate regular flights between Nigeria and Antigua and Barbuda.
“The problem has been that although submissions have taken place the issuing authority here, the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation [ECCA], requires far more information for it to issue the licence, at least this is what we have been told by the ECCA.
“It looks as though Antigua Airways is moving towards meeting those guidelines so that ECCA can in fact issue the licence so that it can become a regular carrier,” Hurst explained.
Upon receiving the licence, the carrier plans to operate a Boeing 767-300ER in a 16-business and 251-economy seating configuration but, in the meantime, Hurst revealed it will continue to operate its charter service.
“For the moment the flight that will arrive in Antigua I believe on December 23 and will depart on January 3, that flight is going to be much like the flight that came before; it will operate on charter rules other than a regular service,” Hurst said.
Since the launch of the airline was announced in July there has been much scepticism over the feasibility of operating an airline in such a short space of time and also the status of the company behind it, Abuja-based printing firm Marvelous Mike Press Ltd.
Despite many questions from the public and opposition politicians, government has remained optimistic that the airline will be a success.
That stance has not changed, according to Hurst.
“I think once the service picks up their regular scheduled services, and lots of people decide that if they wish to come to Antigua in order to get over to the west coast of Africa flying direct rather than having to go through another country’s airspace, it will become a successful private enterprise operation,” he added.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is a part owner in the company and will enjoy 20 percent of any profits generated.
The newly established airline’s first flight to the country was a charter flight which landed at the VC Bird International Airport on Independence Day.
Over 100 passengers were on board, including CEO of Euro Atlantic Airways, Eugenio Fernandes, whose company is a partner in the enterprise, and Founding President of the Nigeria-Antigua and Barbuda Chamber of Commerce, Emmanuel Samson.
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