The newly formed LIAT 2020 made its inaugural flight to St Lucia on Tuesday, signaling the return to the skies of the inter-regional airline, whose previous owners, LIAT (1974) Ltd went bankrupt in January this year.
LIAT 1974 Ltd has been under administration since July 24, 2020, and the new entity has been formed in partnership with Air Peace, a private Nigerian airline founded in 2013.
Earlier this year Prime Minister Gaston Browne said that Air Peace would be putting in close to US$65 million, while the government is investing US$20 million.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, Prime Minister Browne said “Today is indeed a momentous occasion in which we celebrate the inaugural flight of LIAT 2020, Browne said he was pleased to be participating in the event “considering the difficulties that we had with LIAT 1974 four years ago.
“I believe that this is a great story of courage, of patience, of resilience and perhaps the message to all of us is that notwithstanding the challenges we should always press on with determination, with optimism, knowing that invariably there is a brighter future for those who have the courage and resilience to fight whatever obstacles are placed in their way”.
Browne said the launch of the inaugural flight “represents a rebirth of LIAT,” recalling having written a re-organisation in 2020 “In which I was trying to convince the other shareholder governments of LIAT 1974, not to collapse LIAT, not to liquidate LIAT”.
He said the re-organisation plan was titled “LIAT rising like a phoenix “and today we are experiencing LIAT rising like a phoenix from the ashes and I have no doubt based on the quality of the staff and the service that we will provide that LIAT will start at the top of the food chain to be the number one carrier within our region”.
Browne said that the partnership with Air Peace will result in the new company having at least seven new aircraft to service the routes.
“We hope to expand LIAT in the coming years as the demand for travel increases within the region,” Browne said, adding that the company will be a “significant contributor” to the country’s economy.
He said jobs would be created, airport taxes collected, and tourism products improved here.
“LIAT will be a net economic benefit to the government and people of Antigua and we are also looking forward to a profitable LIAT, one that could generate profits and one in which, perhaps on an annual basis, the government of Antigua and Barbuda could look forward to a dividend cheque.
“But in any event, even if it struggles to make a profit, I am confident that it will be a net economic contributor to the economy of Antigua and Barbuda, and my government is committed to the sustainability and viability of LIAT.”
But Browne said that “clearly we can’t do it alone,” saying “we need the support of all stakeholders” praising also the workers of LIAT 1974, who had accepted salary cuts to keep the airline flying.
He said LIAT was necessary for an effective integration movement, saying “LIAT has been and will continue to be a critical aspect of the integration movement as it contributes to moving people within our region.
He said with regards to sustaining the airline, it should not be viewed as an opportunistic institution “seeking to cover a short-term demand, but we should see this institution as an institution we are building long term, an institution we can bequeath to future generations.” —CMC