First LIAT 2020 Embraer ERJ-145 Spotted

Exciting news has just come in – the first jet of LIAT 2020 has been spotted in the wild, donning a brand new livery that is sure to turn heads.

The repainted Embraer ERJ-145, registered as 5N-BVD, looks stunning, with the “LIAT 20” logo emblazoned on the fuselage and tail, and a picture of a half-sun inside the letter “A” that’s reminiscent of the Antigua and Barbuda national flag.

The nacelle on the engines are painted red and the liat20.com website is prominently displayed on the aircraft in white text. What a sight to behold!

The LIAT 2020 website has now become a recruitment portal, advertising every job required to run an airline, except for a few key positions that are likely already filled.

It’s safe to say that the relaunch of LIAT is in full swing, and it won’t be long before a proper booking platform is introduced to the website.

In a strategic move, LIAT (1974) Limited has agreed to sell three of its ATR aircraft to support LIAT 2020’s operations.

Moreover, the new airline has temporarily taken on three Embraer ERJ-145 jets from Air Peace to support its relaunch until the ATRs are introduced to the fleet.

As the ERJs cost less to operate over longer flights and the ATRs excel on short runs, it’ll be interesting to see how LIAT 2020 manages its operational costs.

We’ve also learned that LIAT 2020 is leaving no stone unturned in its quest to acquire an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) for the new entity.

Two evaluation flights have been planned with the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA), flying two routes – one between Antigua and St. Lucia and the other to St. Kitts.

In late November 2023, LIAT 2020 and Nigeria’s Air Peace signed a $56 million deal, with Air Peace taking a 70% stake in the struggling Caribbean airline and the government of Antigua and Barbuda taking on the remaining 30%.

This marks a new chapter in the aviation industry of the Caribbean, and we can’t wait to see what LIAT 2020 has in store for us in the future!