LIAT (Antigua and Barbuda) (Antigua) has resumed its commercial operations after suspending activities last month due to “unscheduled maintenance issues”. It said in a Facebook post that it had resumed its scheduled flights on December 7.
The regional carrier had been forced to suspend its flights in early November due to the severity of the maintenance problems but now claims these have been resolved. It currently operates a fleet of three ATR42-600 turboprops with an average age of exactly ten years, according to ch-aviation fleets data.
ch-aviation analysis of Flightradar24 ADS-B data shows that one of these, V2-LIG (msn 1009), has been active since December 7, making ten or more flights each day to various Caribbean destinations since then. However, the other two aircraft, V2-LID (msn 1006) and V2-LIF (msn 1008), remain inactive as of December 11.
LIAT’s current schedules see it serving 15 routes in nine destinations in nine countries and territories, according to the ch-aviation capacities module.
“The management of LIAT wishes to advise that it has resumed flights following its suspension of services due to maintenance issues in November,” it said. “The company has been able to resolve the maintenance issues and resumed flying its regular schedule, which is currently open for sale, as of today, Thursday, December 7, 2023.”
According to local reports, logistical and supply-chain issues added a layer of complexity to the situation, preventing the carrier from announcing a specific timeframe for the reinstatement of its scheduled operations.
In its message, the airline apologised to all those who were affected by the disruptions and, ahead of the Christmas travel season, “wishes to reiterate its commitment to the safety and comfort of passengers and crew as it continues to serve its current destinations.”
LIAT did not immediately respond to ch-aviation’s request for information as to when the other two turboprops would resume operations.
