LIAT20

Last updated

LIAT (2020) Limited
LIAT20 Logo.webp
IATA ICAO Call sign
5LGAOSOAR
Founded24 July 2020
(replaced LIAT (1974))
Commenced operations6 August 2024
Hubs
Fleet size4
Destinations12
Parent company Air Peace (70%)
Government of Antigua and Barbuda (30%)
Headquarters Osbourn, Antigua and Barbuda
Key peopleHafsah Abdulsalam (CEO)
Website https://liat20.com/
https://flyliat20.com

LIAT 2020 Limited, operating as LIAT20, or simply LIAT, is an airline of Antigua and Barbuda. The company was preceded by LIAT (1974), and commenced operations on 6 August 2024. LIAT20 is a 30/70 venture between the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and Air Peace, and its fleet has been inherited from LIAT (1974) and the latter. [1] [2]

Contents

History

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic led to the liquidation of LIAT (1974) after many unsuccessful months. The company officially ceased operations on January 24, 2024 and laid off more than 90 employees.

LIAT20 was incorporated in Antigua and Barbuda in July 2020, in collaboration with private Nigerian airline Air Peace. [3] Air Peace holds a 70% stake in the company and has been responsible for the leasing of the new Embraer E145s that are being used for the initial routes of the airline. Air Peace and the Government of Antigua and Barbuda invested USD$65 million and USD $20 million respectively.

The airline received the first two of the new Embraer E145s in April 2024 and announced that flights would start within weeks. At the time, inter-island connections were prioritized with the Government looking to revise previous routes of LIAT (1974) such as those to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. It was also announced that a larger Embraer E195-E2 would be acquired in the future. [4]

The airline commenced operations on August 6, 2024, with the inaugural flight to Castries, Saint Lucia. It was announced that scheduled service would begin 2 weeks later, on August 19, 2024, on a twice-daily, thrice weekly Antigua-Saint Lucia-Barbados routing. [5]

Destinations

As of December 2024:

CountryCityAirportNotesRefs
Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.svg  Antigua and Barbuda Osbourn V.C. Bird International Airport Hub [6]
Codrington Burton–Nibbs International Airport [7]
Flag of Barbados.svg  Barbados Bridgetown Grantley Adams International Airport [6]
Flag of the British Virgin Islands.svg  British Virgin Islands Tortola Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport [8]
Flag of Dominica.svg  Dominica Marigot Douglas-Charles Airport [9]
Flag of Grenada.svg  Grenada St. George's Maurice Bishop International Airport [10]
Flag of Guyana.svg  Guyana Georgetown Cheddi Jagan International Airport [11]
Flag of Jamaica.svg  Jamaica Kingston Norman Manley International Airport [12]
Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis.svg  Saint Kitts and Nevis Basseterre Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport
Flag of Saint Lucia.svg  Saint Lucia Castries George F.L. Charles Airport [6]
Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg  Saint Vincent Kingstown Argyle International Airport Hub [13] [14]
Flag of Sint Maarten.svg  Sint Maarten Philipsburg Princess Juliana International Airport [15]
Flag of Trinidad and Tobago.svg  Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain Piarco International Airport [16]

Fleet

As of December 2024, the LIAT20 fleet consists of the following aircraft:

LIAT20 Fleet
AircraftIn fleetOrdersPassengersNotes
ATR 42-600
1
2
48
Ex-LIAT (1974) aircraft [17] [18]
Embraer E145
3
50
Leased from Air Peace [17]
Embraer E195-E2
1
124
Leased from Air Peace [19]
Total43

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References

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  2. "LIAT 2020 releases first flight schedule". Antigua News Room. 2024-08-11. Retrieved 2024-08-13.
  3. "'New LIAT could be airborne in weeks'". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  4. "LIAT 2020 adds two jets to its fleet, moves closer to connecting Caribbean". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  5. "Saint Lucia Welcomes LIAT20's inaugural flight from Antigua". Saint Lucia - Access Government. Retrieved 2024-08-17.
  6. 1 2 3 Digital, V. P. (2024-08-14). "LIAT20 Introduces New Chapter in Regional Connectivity". The Voice St. Lucia News. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  7. ABSTV Antigua (2024-10-03). OFFICIAL OPENING CEREMONY FOR BARBUDA'S INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (Thursday October 3rd 2024) . Retrieved 2024-10-03 via YouTube.
  8. "LIAT Airlines (2020) Limited made its inaugural flight to the Virgin Islands". Government of the Virgin Islands. December 9, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  9. Digital, V. P. (2024-08-31). "Dominica welcomes inaugural flight of LIAT 2020, set to operate regular services". WIC News. Retrieved 2024-09-02.
  10. "LIAT20 adds Dominica, St Kitts, and Grenada to flight network | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  11. "LIAT 2020 set to add Guyana to its route network". Loop Caribbean News. November 7, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  12. "LIAT 20 will begin direct flights between Jamaica and Antigua". Radio Jamaica News Online. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  13. "LIAT 2020 expands network with new flights to St Vincent and the Grenadines, starting Oct 4 - WIC News". wicnews.com. 2024-09-24. Retrieved 2024-09-24.
  14. "LIAT 2020 Announces St. Vincent as New Southern Caribbean Hub". Antigua News Room. 2024-10-07. Retrieved 2024-10-07.
  15. "LIAT Reintroduces Flights to Sint Maarten". St. Maarten Sotheby's International Realty. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
  16. "LIAT (2020) Expands Network with First Flight to Trinidad". St. Vincent Times. December 17, 2024. Retrieved December 21, 2024.
  17. 1 2 "LIAT 2020 adds two jets to its fleet, moves closer to connecting Caribbean". www.guardian.co.tt. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
  18. "LIAT20's First ATR 42-600 Enters Commercial Service". www.gatechecked.com. 2024-12-09. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
  19. "LIAT20 Launches St Vincent Flights for Just US$99". St. Vincent Times. Retrieved 2024-12-20.