LIAT eyes servicing US territories

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua--Prime Minister (PM) Gaston Browne says LIAT is preparing to expand into US territories such as Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands, pending the restoration of the Eastern Car-ibbean’s Category 1 safety rating from the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Speaking on his weekly broadcast, Browne explained that the downgrade to Category 2 – a plied to all Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries in 2020 – remains the only hurdle pre-venting LIAT from flying into US airspace. The FAA had cited deficiencies in safety oversight by the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA).

“We can’t go into the US territories until we get Category 1 restored,” Browne said. “We’ve fixed the gaps they identified, and we’re hoping to regain it later this year or early next year.”