Antigua PM eyes seamless shift as LIAT 1974 hands over to LIAT 2020

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Antigua PM eyes seamless shift as LIAT 1974 hands over to LIAT 2020

LOOP: Prime Minister Gaston Browne is hoping for a seamless switch to LIAT 2020 Limited when LIAT 1974 Limited ceases operations on January 24.

Speaking on his weekly radio program on Saturday, Browne said his administration is waiting on the other LIAT 1974 Limited shareholder governments to send no objection letters to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) to authorise Antigua and Barbuda’s purchase of at least one aircraft for LIAT 2020.

Browne said Antigua and Barbuda is hoping to purchase LIAT’s three aircraft from the CDB “at commercial value”.

 

“If all goes well and the respective prime ministers and their governments act with some urgency…on the basis that those letters go out by early next week, we expect to complete the sale of the first plane for LIAT 2020 and in a matter of weeks we can get the EOC,” he said.

“What we are trying to do here is to wind up 1974 by the end of the month and to start 2020 concurrently.”

Browne said the majority of LIAT 1974’s staff will be rehired at the new company.

LIAT 2020 will be a joint venture between the governments of Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Barbados, and St Vincent and the Grenadine and Nigerian airline Air Peace.

Air Peace is expected to hold a majority stake in LIAT.

LIAT 1974 Limited has been under Administration since 24th July 2020 when it declared bankruptcy. Since restarting operations in November 2020, LIAT has offered a limited schedule to destinations including Antigua, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, St Maarten and Dominica.

Cleveland Seaforth of BDO Eastern Caribbean is the cash-strapped airline’s court-appointed administrator.

In a letter last week, Seafort informed the Antigua-based airline’s staff that the company will wind up its operations before month’s end.

Seaforth wrote “after careful consideration and evaluation of the present operations, a decision has been taken by the court-appointed Administrator to permanently cease all commercial flying operations as of the close of business on January 24, 2024.

“As a result of the foregoing, you are hereby notified that your employment with LIAT (1974) Limited (in administration) will be made redundant effective February 4, 2024.”

Over 90 members of staff are expected to be impacted by the company’s closure.

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6 COMMENTS

  1. Dumb Dumber Dumbest
    How can the process be seamless when at least 12 flights were canceled. If 1974 ends on the 24 th start the 2020 on the 25 th…not cancel ppl flight. Now some ppl have ti book thru New York to get where they were going
    And lastminute.com ain’t always cheap. Actually it’s never cheap for intra Caribbean
    travel

  2. The problem you have here “Mr wiser than everyone” Gatson Browne, is that the general public has lost confidence in Lait as a viable product..how are you going to win back that trust Mr Loud Mouth Prime Minister, how?

    More details of this Lait 2020 has to be released,bother than the simple news as to who the owners are.

    What is the operation process of this new Lait 2020?

    How will it meat its goals against stiff regional competition right now?

    I work in the Airline industry for 17yrs, and can tell you that a lot is lacking here.

    What are the marketing plans for Lait 2020?

    What is the new Moto?

    Questions, Questions,Questions, Mr Prime Minister..we need answers, especially when you are involving a outside entity in Air Peace.

    • I don’t care if it’s 1974 or 2020 i wouldn’t be flying that brand again as far im concern liat a liability so many people left with tickets n millions of dollars out of pocket n not one word from anybody about repaying the people that keep liat in the air all those years to hell with liat.

    • I hope this time next year those letters will be sitting on those respective prime minister’s desk after all the rhetoric by browne boy and his lackeys. keep him on the ( SIDELINE )

  4. Starting an airline is not as simple and seamless when this band of rogues called ALP led by Gaston Browne is involved. We have not forgotten the Antigua Airways travesty. From an official report, Antigua Airways never cleared step 1 of 5. Now this clown expects us to believe that the transition is going to be seamless? Please tell me ONE thing Gaston Browne has done of this magnitude that was not shrouded in controversy, lies and deceit?

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