Antigua and Barbuda Renews Call for Stronger Air Connectivity Between Africa and the Caribbean
Montego Bay, Jamaica – 8th July 2025 – The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has renewed its call for the establishment of direct air links between the Caribbean and the African continent, urging fellow CARICOM member states to collectively support this transformative initiative at the upcoming Second Africa-CARICOM Summit, scheduled for September 7, 2025, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Speaking during the final plenary session of the 49th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM, Prime Minister Gaston Browne underscored the immense potential for enhanced collaboration and economic partnerships between Africa and the Caribbean.
“There are tremendous opportunities for our region to deepen cooperation with Africa—particularly in trade, e-commerce, agriculture, and sports. But most critically, the establishment of direct air links will serve as the catalyst for unlocking these possibilities,” Prime Minister Browne stated.
The Prime Minister emphasized that air connectivity remains a critical enabler for strengthening economic, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges. He reflected on Antigua and Barbuda’s past efforts to initiate direct flights through a partnership with Air Peace, which faced operational challenges.
“We must ensure that any future attempt to bridge the Caribbean and Africa by air is better managed, with the risks mitigated through proper planning and collective support,” he cautioned.
To this end, Prime Minister Browne proposed a strategic investment—both public and private—in the acquisition or leasing of at least two wide-body aircraft to facilitate regular passenger and cargo movement between the two regions.
“This is not only an economic imperative but an historical and cultural one. We must invest in the infrastructure that connects our people and builds a stronger transatlantic partnership rooted in shared heritage and mutual advancement,” he concluded.
Antigua and Barbuda will continue to champion this initiative leading up to the Africa-CARICOM Summit, positioning regional air connectivity as a cornerstone of future cooperation with the African continent.
This is exactly the kind of leadership we need from CARICOM. Connecting to Africa is more than symbolic, it’s strategic, cultural, and long overdue. Kudos to Antigua and Barbuda for keeping the pressure on.
The Air Peace initiative had promise but fell apart. What’s different this time? Hopefully, we’ve learned from those missteps, and there’s a clear roadmap this time around.
Leave the africans in africa! They are not like us, african culture is very different and strange
We have already begun putting in the work so I’m confident that it will happen soon
I would love to go see Ghana. Also this could be the start of a new age, lessening our dependency on the US ports and find alternatives for our economy.
We’ve tried once before and stumbled. But if Antigua’s pushing for joint CARICOM investment in wide-body aircraft, maybe this time there’s real lift-off.
It long over due and I believe the timing is right. Hats off to Mr Browne and the other leaders for their vision in trying to develop and diversify the Caribbean region to take advantage of the opportunities this remarkable initiative will provide. Congratulations gentle men let’s make it happen.