Antigua & Barbuda: Browne administration defends decision to allow Antigua Airways to operate flights to West Africa

The Antigua & Barbuda government has defended the decision to allow for Antigua Airways to operate flights from West Africa directly to the Caribbean country saying the investors will be engaged in a wet lease “which means all that is required is to have the financial resources to lease not only the plane but all of the supporting personnel.”

Antigua Airways is set to begin operations with its inaugural flight to Lagos, Nigeria on October 31. A formal agreement was signed between the government and Nigerian publishing and printing firm, Marvelous Mike Press Limited, last month.

The government of Antigua & Barbuda is a part owner in the company and will enjoy 20 percent of any profits generated. The majority shareholders – a Nigerian investment group – will receive the remaining 80 percent.

Speaking in parliament, Prime Minister Gaston Browne told legislators he is confident that the new airline will get a handling company to assist them and that they have been getting technical expertise from LIAT (Leeward Island Air Travel) based in the capital, St. John’s.

“It is a wet lease – it will start as charter service,” Browne said, adding that his administration “has not made any money available to Antigua Airways.”

“What we did do is to list it as a Citizen by Investment Program (CIP) project and one in which we have allocated up to ten CIP files and if and when they are subscribed then we will get I believe about 20 percent of the shares.”

Under the CIP initiative, Antigua & Barbuda provides citizenship to foreign investors who make a significant contribution to the socio-economic development of the twin-island nation.

Browne told Parliament that the company running the airline is registered to operate in Antigua.

Last month, Tourism Minister Charles Max Fernandez said the third week in October is the tentative date for the first flight and there may be about three flights per week.

Antigua Airways plans to operate a Boeing 767-300ER in a 16-business and 251- economy seating configuration. -(CMC)