A Nigerian printing firm is beginning a brand new airline that can join the Caribbean and Africa. I do know what you’re in all probability pondering — “nice, you’re writing about one other imaginary airline.” Properly, the inaugural flight is at the moment airborne…
The fundamentals of Antigua Airways
Antigua Airways is a brand new airline based mostly in Antigua and Barbuda, which is advertising itself because the “Satisfaction of the Caribbean.” The airline hopes to supply service from St. John’s (ANU) to the next locations with three weekly frequencies:
- Accra, Ghana (ACC)
- Lagos, Nigeria (LOS)
- Toronto, Canada (YYZ)
The first investor within the airline is Marvelous Mike Press Ltd., which appears to be a Nigerian printing and publishing agency. The corporate has no earlier expertise within the airline trade, and owns 80% of the airline. The opposite 20% stake is owned by the federal government of Antigua and Barbuda, utilizing funds from the state’s Citizenship by Funding Programme (CIP).
The federal government of Antigua and Barbuda is touting this as an necessary hyperlink to West Africa, with the potential for vital financial profit and funding.
Mockingly LIAT is the present regional airline of Antigua and Barbuda, and the airline operates a fleet of some turboprops. That airline has been on the verge of liquidation for fairly a while.
Antigua Airways operates inaugural flight
The inaugural Antigua Airways flight is at the moment underway — the flight departed from Lagos early this morning, and is because of arrive in St. John’s across the center of the day. You may monitor the flight right here.
Antigua Airways isn’t really working its personal planes, as of now. Somewhat the airline is beginning operations with a leased EuroAtlantic Airways Boeing 767-300ER, that includes 267 seats, together with 16 enterprise class seats and 251 economic system class seats. This can be a moist leased jet from the Portuguese constitution airline, which means the crew and aircraft are all from EuroAtlantic.
It will seem that Antigua Airways has bought this as a one-week tour package deal, with a departure from Lagos on October 31 (it was delayed by a day… oops?), and a return on November 6. It’s not but clear what service the airline will function past that.
Antigua Airways appears to be promoting tickets on-line the identical approach you may purchase an edible flower association via a mom-and-pop retailer. So, how a lot is the corporate charging?
- A “Flight Ticket” prices ~$3,421
- An “Economic system Class Bundle,” together with roundtrip economic system class journey, lodging, and a visa, prices ~$4,333
- A “Enterprise Class Bundle,” together with roundtrip enterprise class journey, lodging, and a visa, prices ~$9,122
Suffice it to say I’m confused:
- A roundtrip economic system ticket prices over $3K?! The package deal costs aren’t precisely affordable both, with enterprise class costing practically $5K additional roundtrip
- You may undergo the method of shopping for this, regardless that the one printed flight schedule has already departed
- It’s not even clarified what sort of lodging you’re getting, which looks as if one thing that must be clarified
That is very, very unusual
This new airline idea has obtained a whole lot of criticism in native press in Antigua and Barbuda, since persons are curious how authorities funds are being spent. So it’s good to know that I’m not alone to find this all to be a thriller.
A Nigerian printing firm is partnering with the federal government of Antigua and Barbuda to launch an airline, and the primary flight has already taken off. Flights had been solely marketed a number of weeks earlier than launching, and had been ridiculously costly.
I don’t know what precisely is occurring right here, however this doesn’t strike me as your conventional airline startup. Hopefully EuroAtlantic Airways bought fee upfront…
Backside line
Antigua Airways is an airline startup that’s a three way partnership between a Nigerian firm and the federal government of Antigua and Barbuda. The airline plans to fly from St. John’s to Accra, Lagos, and Toronto, and amazingly sufficient, the inaugural flight is already within the air.
That is little question a wierd idea, and I’m curious to see how this evolves.
What do you make of Antigua Airways?
