Antigua and Barbuda, OECS aims to regain top airport rating
Antigua and Barbuda, along with other members of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), are working towards regaining their Category One designation for their respective airports.
This upgrade is necessary for these airports to be able to receive direct flights from the United States and other countries.
The airports in the sub-region previously had Category One status, which meant that they met the highest standards of safety and security set by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
However, they have since been downgraded due to certain legislative requirements that they lacked regarding the operations of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA).
The requirement is for ECCAA to have more autonomy as an entity in the sub-region free from direct political influence.
In order to regain their Category One status, the airports need to meet this requirement and other safety and security standards set by the FAA.
This matter was discussed at a recent meeting between Prime Minister Gaston Browne and his senior technicians with a team from ECCAA.
During the discussions, the prime minister indicated that Antigua and Barbuda has already adopted the required legislation clearing the way for the upgrade to give effect to Category One.
“Antigua and Barbuda is the only OECS member to have already Gazetted the regulations that give effect to Category One. The prime minister was assured that the other states are working towards a target of having everything in place so that the upgrade can take place before the end of the year,” Development Commissioner, Ambassador Daven Joseph reported.
This comes as LIAT 2020 will take off today from the VC Bird International airport on a demo-flight to St. Kitts under the supervision of ECCAA as part of the process for the new airline to attain its Air Operator’s Certificates (AOC).
A second flight will take off tomorrow for St. Lucia using the ATR aircraft. Both flights will return on the same day.
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