By: Alina Ramos Martin
Saint John, Dec 27 (Prensa Latina) Antigua Airways’ managing director, Opeyemi Olorunfemi, ruled out mentioning a date for the start of the airline’s commercial flights because they are still awaiting approval.
At the moment, we are operating charter flights and will continue to do so until we obtain the Air Operator’s Certificate from the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority,’ the executive told the press.
I am very optimistic and I believe that next year we will move to a commercial level, Olorunfemi, addressed plans to improve the airline’s service, not only by expanding weekly trips to two or three but also by giving passengers a better experience, he explained.
The last charter flight to the country took place last November 1, Independence Day, when more than 100 passengers arrived on a Boeing 767-300, taking off from Lagos, Nigeria.
Antigua Airways, created through a public-private partnership between the government of Antigua and Barbuda and Nigerian printer Marvelous Mike Press, was described as the first airline to directly link the twin-island nation with the African continent.
Several voices here criticized the airline management experience of the company behind it; however, the country’s top authorities continue to express their confidence that Antigua Airways will be a success.
Experts on the subject agree that the new company is one of the major plans of the government of Antigua and Barbuda to boost connectivity in the Caribbean.