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VC Bird International Airport to Close Due to Approaching Tropical System

Editor — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 23:11:38 +0000

The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority (ABAA) has announced that VC Bird International Airport will cease operations at 8 p.m. tonight, August 12, in anticipation of an incoming tropical system.

This decision follows the latest guidance from the Antigua and Barbuda Meteorological Services. The ABAA expects the airport to resume normal commercial services by 3 p.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, August 13, depending on weather conditions.

Travelers and stakeholders are advised to follow updates from local disaster emergency services and take necessary precautions as the storm approaches. The ABAA will continue to monitor the storm and provide updates as needed.

For further information, travelers are encouraged to stay tuned to official advisories or contact their airlines directly.

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Tropical Storm Watch Issued Across Caribbean Islands

Editor — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 02:30:28 +0000

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) has raised the forecast chances for a tropical wave in the Atlantic to evolve into the season’s next tropical depression or storm. The system, which has been gathering strength since Thursday, is now positioned in the central tropical Atlantic, roughly midway between the Cape Verde Islands and the Lesser Antilles.

As of 8 a.m. on Saturday, the tropical wave, now officially named Potential Tropical Cyclone Five, was projected to become the third hurricane of the 2024 season. The NHC predicts that the system will develop into a tropical depression by early Monday morning and potentially intensify into Tropical Storm Ernesto shortly thereafter.

Currently moving west-northwest at 21 mph, Potential Tropical Cyclone Five is located approximately 950 miles southeast of Antigua. It has sustained winds of 30 mph and a central pressure of 1010 millibars. The system’s expansive stretch of showers and thunderstorms has grown more organized, prompting a series of tropical storm watches across the Caribbean.

In response to the impending threat, several governments across the Caribbean have issued Tropical Storm Watches, signaling the potential for tropical storm conditions within 48 hours. The affected areas include Guadeloupe, St. Martin, St. Kitts, Nevis, Montserrat, Antigua, Barbuda, Anguilla, Saba, St. Eustatius, and Sint Maarten.

The Tropical Storm Watches highlight the growing concern for residents in these areas, who are advised to stay vigilant as the system advances. Interests in the Leeward Islands, British and U.S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico are also encouraged to monitor the storm’s progress closely, with additional watches potentially being issued tonight or early Monday.

As Potential Tropical Cyclone Five continues on its west-northwest trajectory, it is poised to become Tropical Storm Ernesto in the coming days.

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LIAT 2020 Takes to the Skies with Inaugural Flight to Saint Lucia

Editor — Wed, 07 Aug 2024 20:32:04 +0000

The newly formed LIAT 2020 launched its inaugural flight to Saint Lucia today, August 6, signaling the resurgence of the inter-regional airline following the bankruptcy of its predecessor, LIAT (1974) Ltd, in January this year.

The inaugural flight departed from V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua at 11:30 a.m., carrying a delegation of dignitaries and media representatives. The launch was preceded by a brief opening ceremony where Prime Minister Gaston A. Browne of Antigua and Barbuda, along with other officials, expressed their pride and optimism for the future of LIAT 2020.

Formed in partnership with Air Peace, a Nigerian private airline established in 2013, LIAT 2020 aims to restore and enhance regional connectivity. The new entity emerges from the shadow of LIAT 1974 Ltd, which had been under administration since July 24, 2020.

LIAT 2020 begins operations with a fleet of seven aircraft, initially offering a limited schedule of three flights per week between Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Lucia, and Barbados. This strategic launch is part of a broader vision to rebuild a reliable inter-island transport network that is vital for the economic and social fabric of the Caribbean.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Air Peace would invest nearly US$65 million into the venture, with the government of Antigua and Barbuda contributing an additional US$20 million.

While LIAT 2020 has yet to schedule flights to the British Virgin Islands (VI), there is growing anticipation that the airline will soon expand its routes to include this key destination. The VI, currently facing challenges with regional airline services, stands to benefit significantly from LIAT 2020’s enhanced connectivity.

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