Prime Minister Gaston Browne has announced that LIAT will soon expand its operations to include U.S. territories such as Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The Prime Minister stated during his weekly broadcast that the oversight being given by LIAT’s aviation authority does not currently align with the international aviation safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) – this is presently the only obstacle.

“We can’t go into the U.S territories until we get category 1 (FAA via ICAO rating) restored. That is the problem, otherwise we would’ve gone into the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico”, said PM Browne.

PM Browne on Browne and Browne show (screenshot)

In 2020 the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) made a decision to downgrade all OECS countries to a Category 2 rating. According to the FAA, “Category 2” indicates that FAA inspectors assessed a country’s civil aviation authority and determined that it does not provide safety oversight in accordance with ICAO standards.

All OECS nations are regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA).

Due to the loss of Category 1 status, airlines from affected countries can no longer operate services to the United States and its territories.

Prime Minister Browne stated that the reasons for the downgrade have been addressed, and he anticipates that LIAT will restore these U.S. air routes in the near future.

“We are hoping that later this year, or perhaps by first half of next year we will restore category 1”, said Browne. “We have fixed the gaps that they indicated existed, and as soon as that is fixed, LIAT will go into the U.S territories.”

In the meantime, LIAT continues to provide air routes to other Caribbean countries, having just completed its inaugural flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica. Plans are reportedly underway for connections to South American countries such as Colombia and Panama, as the nation seeks to diversify its trading routes to promote enhanced socio-economic stability and growth.