Antigua and Barbuda’s Lower House of Parliament has approved three new Air Services Agreements with Rwanda, Germany, and Qatar, advancing the government’s strategy to expand international air connectivity and transform the country into a regional aviation hub.
Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez, who introduced the agreements, said the move signals Antigua and Barbuda’s commitment to deepening diplomatic and commercial ties beyond traditional partners. “The agreement with Rwanda reflects the government’s interest of broadening our relationship with Africa,” Fernandez noted.
He revealed that discussions are underway with Rwanda’s national carrier, RwandAir Limited, to begin services between Africa and Antigua as early as next year—timed to support the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The agreement with Germany, home to leisure carrier Condor which operates seasonal flights to Antigua, was also welcomed. Fernandez said the new framework “will provide enhanced legal structure for their operations, including the possibility for freedom traffic rights,” which could allow for more flexible and frequent service options.
On the Qatar agreement, Fernandez highlighted the Gulf nation’s ongoing contributions to Antigua’s aviation development. “Qatar remains a strong partner in terms of technical assistance and support to our aviation sector,” he said, adding that the new agreement “provides the basis for such continued support in training and capacity building.”
Prime Minister Gaston Browne underscored the strategic importance of these agreements in boosting trade, tourism, 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 pointed to long-standing efforts to connect Africa and the Caribbean, including meetings with former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and early discussions held in Malta in 2015. Browne also recalled Antigua and Barbuda’s historic role in 2019 in facilitating the first African transatlantic commercial flight to the Caribbean.
The Prime Minister also confirmed that talks are ongoing with Nigerian carrier Air Peace to launch scheduled flights between Lagos and Antigua and Barbuda, with a tentative start date in the fourth quarter of this year.
