Summary
- Air Antilles to restart operations on July 1st after a 10-month shutdown, focusing on Caribbean routes initially.
- The carrier’s new owners have big plans for the relaunch, including a refreshed flight attendant uniform.
- A new AOC is set to mark the beginning of a new era for Air Antilles.
Air Antilles has revealed its plans to restart operations next month, following a ten-month shutdown. The carrier was recently awarded its new air operator’s certificate (AOC) and has set the date for its first flight as July 1st. Air Antilles will initially operate just one route, with more routes set to commence shortly after.
Air Antilles is based at Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP) on the island of Guadeloupe. The carrier was originally founded in December 2002 and previously operated flights to destinations throughout the Caribbean, including Barbados (BGI), Punta Cana (PUJ), San Juan (SJU), and Saint Lucia (SLU).
Air Antilles has been through a turbulent 12 months
Last year, the carrier was hit by turbulent times, starting with industrial action by its pilots and cabin crew. The group CAIRE, which owned both Air Antilles and Air Guyane, was later closed in September 2023 due to financial difficulties, with Air Guyane going into liquidation and Air Antilles being snatched up by new owners.
A relaunch strategy was subsequently put in place by the airline’s new owners, and on May 23rd, it was awarded its AOC. Air Antilles will initially operate a limited network of just three destinations before building up the rest of the carrier’s previous network. According to FranceInfo, these three initial network points are set to be:
- Fort-de-France (FDF) – July 15th
- Saint Barthelemy (SBH) – July 1st
- Saint Martin (SFG) – July 15th.
Air Antilles will operate an initial fleet of two ATR 72s, one ATR 42, and one deHavilland Canada DHC 6 Twin Otter, which carry up to 72, 48, and 19 passengers, respectively. The fleet is expected to grow as the airline re-establishes itself over the coming months.
Air Antilles will compete with Air Caraïbes, another regional airline based at Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport, on its routes to Fort-de-France and Saint Martin. Air Caraïbes operates a fleet of regional ATR 72 aircraft, in addition to widebody Airbus A330s and A350s, which it deploys on its long-haul routes to the French mainland.
You might also like:
Is Air Caraïbes Fighting To Shut Down Rival Corsair?
Groupe Dubreuil (Air Caraïbes and French bee) is speaking out against the state aid its biggest rival, Corsair, hopes to receive.
Uniform refresh to coincide with the re-launch
In another sign of its new beginnings, Air Antilles also took the opportunity to refresh its flight attendant uniform, showcasing the airline’s brand identity and prioritizing comfort for its employees. The carrier proudly shared the video below on its social media channels:
A new AOC and firm relaunch plans mark the dawn of a new era for Air Antilles and its 120 employees. Hopes will likely be high that the carrier will be able to reposition itself as a viable operator in the region, competing successfully with more established operators such as Air Caraïbes.
Have you flown on Air Antilles? What do you think of the latest news to come from the airline? Will you be booking one of its new routes? Share your thoughts and experiences by commenting below.