LIAT could resume passenger services within weeks, Antigua PM says

Regional airline LIAT could return to the Caribbean skies soon to once again ferry passengers to and from most of its destinations, Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Gaston Browne said.

LIAT discontinued passenger services after most of the countries it serve closed their borders to halt the spread of COVID-19

The airline last extended the suspension of its passenger services to May 31.

“We have not decided as yet but there’s what is called equalization of risk,” Browne said on Pointe FM’s Browne and Browne show over the weekend.

“So, for example the islands that LIAT serve, maybe barring Guadeloupe and Martinique ⁠— I think the situation in St. Maarten is under control as well ⁠— I think that we should be in a position sometime in June to resume intra-regional travel because the level of risk among the countries is practically the same,” Browne said. 

“Certainly within the OECS, [Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States] all of the countries within the OECS, I believe within the next two weeks or so will be declared COVID-free.

“Barbados, they pretty much have their situation under control … I think it should be relatively safe within a matter of a couple weeks for us to resume intra-regional travel,” Browne added.

On May 14, Chief Executive Officer, Julie Reifer-Jones explained that the airline continues to monitor the efforts to contain the COVID-19 pandemic and that the further extension was necessary.

Reifer-Jones reassured the public that the airline was putting plans in place to resume operations as soon as there was a clear timeline by territories for the reopening of their borders.

“We have been working with our stakeholders to develop a plan for resuming flights when this is possible.”

(This article was written by 268 TODAY journalists)