LIAT 2020 is on track to take to skies by next month: Minister Nicholas

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has announced that LIAT 2020 is on track to take to the skies by next month. Information Minister Melford Nicholas announced the development during last week’s Post Cabinet Media briefing.He said that the Antigua-based carrier is expecting to receive the Air Operator’s Certificate soon. “It is fair to expect that before the end of May and certainly during the month of June, LIAT 2020 will be in the skies,” outlined Minister Nicholas. The Minister that at this stage he cannot predict on what routes it will operate but he believes that the airline will start with the more profitable route. He also said one of the sidebar development that is taking place is that at least one other OECS country has expressed a positive interest in being able to come on board. Meanwhile, Minister Nicholas also explained that a previous issue has been resolved regarding the landing gear on the aircraft used for the recent demonstration flights.“There are requirements after a certain amount of time that various aspects of an airworthy aircraft had to go into service and had to be repaired if not replaced. The time had come for the aircraft that would have been airworthy for the landing gate to be changed, and certainly for the other craft, the same would have been true,” he noted. He said that the team moved swiftly and acquired the replacement landing gear to resolve the issue as soon as possible. In addition to this, the minister provided a crucial explanation about the air operator's certificate or AOC which is said to be received by the carrier soon. It will be granted by the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) on the ATRs such as the one that LIAT has leased and which was used for the demonstration flights.The Cabinet has also agreed to allow LIAT 2020 to conduct low-cost charter flights to transport residents from the mainland to the sister isle for festivities. This is expected to depend on the Eastern Caribbean civil aviation authorities' approval of the aircraft's use of the new Barbuda Runway since only that Runway can accommodate the LIAT planes.It will also depend on the carrier receiving an air operator's certificate or AOC in time for the festivities next month as the cabinet has approved $75,000 to fund those festivities on the sister Isle of Barbados.