-Antigua PM lauds development
The inaugural flight of LIAT (2020) touched down at CJIA yesterday from Antigua and the development was hailed by the Prime Minister of that country who underlined its importance to regional connectivity.
Prime Minister of Anti-gua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, who arrived on the flight, stated that “with the return of LIAT following two failed attempts LIAT 2020 is better especially if one is to consider the prior iterations, and that the airline at some point could not afford to pay for its liabilities”. He stated that the airline is now more efficient. Browne also added that LIAT is an essential institution as it provides sustainable connectivity for Caribbean people.
“So in terms of connecting Caribbean people and to help them to move effectively there will be no other airline within the Caribbean region and to do so on a sustainable basis and with an effective pricing. In fact LIAT has the best product not in terms of service but in terms of pricing. I just travelled with LIAT to Guyana with several agents and I can say easily and I can say it is the best flight I have had to Guyana. Not only in terms of the stability of the plane but also in terms of the service. Based on the closeness between our two countries and since Antigua and Barbuda easily has the largest Guyanese diaspora in the Caribbean per capita and with so many individuals wanting to come back home it shows that having the convenience of flying out of Antigua into Guyana will be good”.
LIAT 2020 Limited is a joint venture between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) and Air Peace Caribbean Limited (APCL). The shareholding structure consists of 30% ownership by GOAB and 70% by APCL. Both entities are incorporated under the laws of Antigua and Barbuda.
The return of LIAT 2020 to Guyana was announced on November 15 by way of a release which stated that “the introduction of LIAT 2020’s Georgetown route marks a significant milestone in the airline’s expansion strategy, offering a crucial link between the Caribbean and Guyana’s emerging markets. Georgetown, as Guyana’s capital and economic hub, is a key destination for business and leisure travelers alike”, the statement said.
Tickets for the new Antigua-Guyana route are available for booking through the LIAT20 website at www.flyliat20.com, the Customer Experience Centre at +1 (268) 713-5428, reservations@flyliat20.com, the ticketing kiosk at the VC Bird International Airport and travel agents.
Public Works Minister Juan Edghill who was also at the ceremony yesterday said: “We have had rising passenger traffic for years. The international passengers travelling through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport surged by 18 percent in 2024. To date in November we have processed over 750,000 passengers at CJIA which is 20,000 more than all of 2024. This time in 2024 we have already passed our 2023 numbers. At the end of this month we’re anticipating the processing of over 1 million passengers at all ports of entry in Guyana”.
He also added that there has been growth in the movement of cargo.
“At CJIA we have processed 11276 tons of cargo in 2023 a 26 percent increase over 2022. In 2024 cargo movement has increased by a further 19 percent. We are expected to close in 2024 with 13,500 tons of cargo through the Cheddi Jagan International Airport”, he said.
