Antigua Airways is on track to make its inaugural flight into the V. C. Bird International Airport this morning as the country marks its 41st anniversary of independence from the United Kingdom.
The flight which left Lagos, Nigeria on Monday will arrive in Antigua and Barbuda at 8:30am.
The leased Boeing 767-300ER aircraft, which has a capacity of 267 passengers, is being operated as a charter.
Of the flight’s 16 business and 251 economy class passengers, many will take connecting flights to onward destinations, however scores more will remain in Antigua and Barbuda for a week-long, all inclusive holiday organised by the airline.
The vacation packages offered by Antigua Airways were priced to accommodate both business and economy clients.
Antigua Airways’ arrival today will put to bed months of criticism from the government’s opponents over the likelihood that the company would begin operations by the end of October as it had promised.
Antigua Airways is financed by Marvelous Mike Press Ltd., a publishing company based in Abuja, Nigeria.
While the government of Antigua and Barbuda has no ownership stake in the company, the operating agreement will see it receive 20 percent of Antigua Airways’ profits with the remainder going to the Nigerian financiers.
The flight will be received by a delegation led by Minister of Tourism, Charles “Max” Fernandez.
