In a recent meeting, the Cabinet of Antigua and Barbuda engaged with the Principal of the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA) and its legal team to explore potential opportunities for generating non-tax revenue through aircraft registration.

Currently, the ECCAA has registered a mere nine aircraft, including three vessels from LIAT, four helicopters owned by Calvin Ayre, and two private airplanes. This is in stark contrast to the Antigua and Barbuda Department of Maritime Services (ADOMS), which oversees hundreds of registered vessels. The Cabinet aims to enhance the registration process to take advantage of the high number of private jets operated by affluent visitors who frequently travel to Antigua and Barbuda.

One significant proposal on the table is to revise the existing registration fees, which are currently set based on aircraft type. For example, the registration fee for a popular private jet, such as a Gulfstream, is reportedly no higher than that of an SUV’s registration fee. Under this plan, the revenue collected from these fees would be directed exclusively to the ECCAA, providing a vital new revenue source for the authority.

In addition to registration fees, a license fee for airworthiness is also imposed, which requires qualified inspectors to evaluate the aircraft. However, changes in legislative policies governing the ECCAA would be necessary to facilitate revenue-sharing, as current legislation mandates that all fees for licenses and registrations go solely to ECCAA.

As the discussions continue, there is optimism that revamping the aircraft registration framework could lead to significant improvements in the region’s civil aviation sector, ultimately benefiting both the authority and the broader economy of Antigua and Barbuda.