LIAT 2020, the new version of the airline, continues expanding after its return, adding new routes in the Caribbean and recovering destinations from the defunct LIAT (1974) Ltd.
On November 19, it arrived in South America with flights to Georgetown (GEO), Guyana, and on November 29 to Tortola (EIS) in the British Virgin Islands. On December 19 and 20, it will fly to Port of Spain (POS), Trinidad and Tobago, and Kingston (KIN), Jamaica, respectively.
LIAT 2020 started flying in April 2024, with a 70% stake by the Nigerian airline Air Peace and the remaining 30% in the hands of the Antigua & Barbuda government. The African airline has invested around USD 65 million in LIAT, while the Caribbean country contributed USD 20 million.
The airline stands out for offering a full onboard service, with snacks and drinks served free of charge, which is uncommon on regional flights.
More aircraft for LIAT
LIAT 2020 began operations with two Embraer ERJ 145LR (5N-BVD and 5N-BXG), which were part of the regional fleet of Air Peace. In November, it added its third ERJ 145 (5N-BUV), and next week it will add three ATR 42-600 from the former LIAT.
The Antigua and Barbuda government emphasized that it would pay US$12.1 million into an escrow account for the acquisition of other aircraft owned by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), based in Barbados.
Among the company’s ambitious plans is to expand to the United States, with a Boeing 737-500 scheduled to operate to Miami (MIA). The Antigua and Barbuda government seeks to negotiate open skies and update an Air Services Agreement (ASA) to allow operations in Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the U.S. mainland.
Routes and destinations for January 2025
Currently, LIAT 2020 connects twelve Caribbean destinations such as Antigua, Barbados, Dominica, British Virgin Islands, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Maarten, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago. It also plans to expand to Barbuda and Santo Domingo/Las Américas (SDQ).
- From Antigua & Barbuda
- Barbados (BGI), 2 weekly flights.
- Dominica (DOM), 3 weekly flights.
- Georgetown (GEO), Guyana; 2 weekly flights.
- Kingston (KIN), Jamaica; one weekly flight, (starts December 20).
- Port of Spain (POS), Trinidad and Tobago; one weekly flight, (starts December 19).
- Basseterre (SKB), Saint Kitts and Nevis; one weekly flight.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVD), 3 weekly flights.
- St. Maarten (SXM), 2 weekly flights.
- Saint Lucia (SLU), 2 weekly flights.
- Tortola (EIS), British Virgin Islands; 2 weekly flights.
- From Barbados:
- Dominica, between one and two weekly flights.
- Grenada (GND), one weekly flight.
- Georgetown, Guyana; 3 weekly flights.
- Saint Lucia, one weekly flight.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, between one and two weekly flights.
- From Saint Lucia
- Grenada, one weekly flight.
- Dominica, one weekly flight.
- Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, one weekly flight.
- From Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
- Dominica, one weekly flight.
- Grenada, between one and two weekly flights.
- Tortola, one weekly flight.
- From Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis:
- St. Maarten, one weekly flight.
- Tortola, British Virgin Islands; 1 weekly flight.
- From St. Maarten
- Tortola, one weekly flight.
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