MPS APPROVE AIR SERVICES AGREEMENTS WITH RWANDA ET AL

The Lower House of Parliament has approved three Air Services Agreements with Rwanda, Germany, and Qatar as part of the government’s strategy to expand international air connectivity and position the country as a regional aviation hub. By Robert Andre Emmanuel

Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, who presented the resolutions, said the agreement with Rwanda “reflects the government’s interest of broadening our relationship with Africa”.

Fernandez said that discussions were ongoing for Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir Limited, to provide services between Africa and Antigua for next year, especially for the Commonwealth Heads meeting.

The air service agreement with Germany was praised, noting Condor’s annual operations to Antigua. Fernandez explained that the agreement “will provide enhanced legal framework for their operations, including the possibility for freedom traffic”.

Regarding the agreement with Qatar, the Minister stated that “Qatar remains a strong partner in terms of technical assistance and support to our aviation sector” and said the agreement “provides the basis for such continued support in training and capacity building”.

Prime Minister Gaston Browne stressed the importance of establishing reliable transportation links to facilitate trade and investment.

“It is well known that my administration has been at the forefront of CARICOM efforts to establish trade and investment links with the motherland,” Browne said. “In order to have reliable trade and investment links, we must have air and sea transportational links.”

He also made reference to previous efforts, including a meeting with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and discussions dating back to 2015 in Malta about strengthening connectivity between the Caribbean and Africa. He noted, too, that in 2019, Antigua and Barbuda “arranged for the first African transatlantic commercial flight, between Africa and the Caribbean”.

The PM added that there were ongoing discussions with Air Peace to commence scheduled flights between Antigua and Barbuda and Lagos, potentially by the fourth quarter of this year.