LIAT Air has restored direct flights between Antigua and Guadeloupe, ending years of disconnect between two islands that have always been close enough to see but difficult to reach by air.
The inaugural twice-weekly service launched yesterday, bringing an air link back to life that went dark before COVID.
And if the early numbers are anything to go by, the appetite for the route is not in question. LIAT Air Chief Executive Officer Hafsah Abdulsalam revealed that the launch flight initially scheduled for May 1 was already more than fifty percent full on both legs.
“We had an initial flight on the 1st of May, and on that day, we literally had both flights in and out more than half, 50 percent,” she said, describing it as “a strong demonstration as to what the prospects are for the destination.”
Abdulsalam called yesterday’s launch “another key milestone in the growth of LIAT and the connectivity that we are offering to the Caribbean people within the Caribbean”, adding that forward bookings are already showing strong interest from travellers on both sides of the channel.
The short 20-minute flight departed Antigua at around 8am yesterday, carrying a delegation that included Abdulsalam, Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism Michael Freeland; Chief Executive Officer of Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin James; Director of Tourism for the Caribbean and Latin America Charmaine Spencer; United Kingdom High Commissioner John Hamilton; and members of the media and other invited guests.
The flight was welcomed on arrival with the traditional water salute, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a brief programme with local officials. LIAT will operate the service twice weekly, on Fridays and Sundays.
Abdulsalam said what began as a seasonal plan quickly evolved into something more permanent. “When we started, the plan was for it to be seasonal flights. But then when we introduced the routes, we noticed that the demand and the interest was amplified,” she said.
The airline has since committed to offering the service year-round, with frequency expected to peak between November and April. “We’ll offer the flights as required,” Abdulsalam added.
She also confirmed that plans to partner with the existing Guadeloupe ferry service are already in motion, with her team having made contact to explore that collaboration…
