LIAT (1974) Ltd, made its final flight to the Argyle International Airport (AIA) yesterday afternoon (January 22), ending its 67-year journey as ‘The Caribbean Airline’. The aircraft, which struggled through years of financial challenges, went into administration in 2020. In two days time, January 24, LIAT (1974) Ltd will cease to exist, thus paving the way for another entity, LIAT 2020 Ltd, to come into operation.

Fire tenders at VC Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda honour Liat (1974) Ltd with final water salute.

President of the local LIAT Workers Union, Jeremiah Howard, speaking to SVGTV said it was a bitter-sweet moment seeing the airline end its service to the region noting that it was more than an aircraft, it represented the essence of the Caribbean’s culture.

“There is a lot of regret but there is a lot of admiration…” for the airline which has left an indelible mark across the region. The airline, owned by the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines, bore the brunt of criticism from dissatisfied travellers over the years who often renamed its acronym because of late arrivals or departures. In the wake of its declared bankruptcy and subsequent severe cutback in schedule, many publicly longed for the services it provided connecting the Caribbean. On its final flight to the AIA yesterday, the airline received a good bye water salute; and received another when it made its final touch down at its Antigua base at the VC Bird International Airport Monday evening where government officials and staff were among those who welcomed the airline home.

In its heyday LIAT (1974) Ltd served as many as 22 destinations; this was reduced to 10 post-covid. Six contract workers with the airline in St Vincent and the Grenadines are among others across the airline’s network who have lost employment with the cessation of services of the airline.