Sunrise Airways welcomed at V.C. Bird to mark the beginning of flights from Antigua

Antigua and Barbuda’s “modern five-star international airport” and “ideal geographic location” make it an ideal gateway for Sunrise Airways’ operations.

This is according to Haitian-owned airline CEO Philippe Bayard, who arrived at the VC Bird International Airport on Tuesday morning on the inaugural St. Lucia to Antigua flight.

He explained the airline’s rationale for choosing the location as its “prime gateway toward realizing many benefits for the traveling public and the region.

“For us, the decision to launch our new Eastern Caribbean flight operation from Antigua and Barbuda was easy for several reasons. Chief among them is Antigua’s ideal geographic location nestled here at the fulcrum, where the Eastern and Western Caribbean meet,” he said

He said Antigua’s impressive facility and its highly capable staff offer strong support infrastructure, experience, and expertise that are “the envy” of many other airports around the Caribbean and beyond.

“Simply put, Antigua, in general, and VC Bird International Airport, in particular, are ideally positioned and equipped to support our one Caribbean vision, connecting our island states as never before,” the CEO stated.

He described Tuesday’s occasion as an “exceptional” one that began a new chapter for the airline, Antigua and Barbuda, and the broader Eastern Caribbean.

“Sunrise Airways will always remain dedicated to offering efficient and seamless connectivity among the Caribbean capitals, thereby advancing regional integrations towards a sustainable future.

“We strongly believe that the introduction of our new fights from Antigua signifies a new chapter for the region facilitating working, vacationing, investment, and conducting business across the eastern Caribbean,” he contends.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin James an additional flight means a lot for intra-regional travel.

“This provides an opportunity for more collaboration, and I think the opportunity Sunrise Airways presents is for us to grow to our mutual benefit”, James said

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez said Antigua and Barbuda is seen as the gateway to the rest of the Caribbean, and it is important for international careers to be able to have their passengers move to the other island seamlessly.

Sunrise Airways is a regional airline founded in 2010. It launched its Antigua to St. Kitts route on May 26, its Antigua to Dominica route on May 27, and its St. Lucia to Antigua Barbuda route on May 28.

The airline now services over a dozen domestic and international destinations with a fleet size of 10.