Guadeloupe-based Air Antilles has risen from the ashes, resuming flights on Monday, with its first flight from Pointe-a-Pitre (PTP) in Guadeloupe to Grand Case (SFG) on the French side of Saint Martin.
Originally formed in 2002, Air Antilles came about after the merger of Air Antilles and Air Guyane, both of which operated under Guadeloupe’s CAIRE group. A new colorful green livery was also unveiled with the introduction of its larger ATR 72-600.
Over its lifespan, the carrier operated to a number of Caribbean islands including Martinique, Saint Martin, Saint Barthelemy, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Unfortunately CAIRE filed for bankruptcy in July 2023, which meant that Air Antilles was forced to pause operations.
After much back and forth, the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the EDEIS group agreed to finance the airline, with the Collective investing 60%. The remaining 40% is being funded by EDEIS, a French engineering firm which also manages the Saint-Martin Grand-Case airport.
The airline received a new air operator certificate (AOC) in June 2024, paving the way for re-entry into service. On July 22, the first commercial flight departed Pointe-a-Pitre at 8:03 a.m. local time, touching down in Grand Case less than an hour later at 8:43 a.m.
Credit: Air AntillesThe airline has resumed operations with two ATR 72-600s, one ATR 42-600, and a DeHavilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter. They have decided to start small, operating to Saint Barthelemy (SBH), Saint-Martin and Martinique (FOF).
Featured image: Bradley Wint/Gate Checked
