A Nigerian printing company is starting a new airline that will connect the Caribbean and Africa. I know what you’re probably thinking — ”great, you’re writing about another imaginary airline.” Well, the inaugural flight is currently airborne…
Continue reading: Bizarre: Antigua Airways, A New Nigerian-Owned Airline
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Ben,
I wish I were in that Pitch Meeting to the two Gov'ts & Carrier, Mike Printing must be the greatest saleperson in World, carrier the most desparate.
Oy Vey
Operate one flight, take the cash from the Antigua govt and then disappear!? I'm sure that won't happen though!
Nigerian Naira has a black market exchange rate (think dolar blue in Argentina) where the street exchange rate is about 800/$1, so those prices quoted would effectively be cut in half based on the official rate of 435/$1
All that said, those prices are still eyepopping and I can't comprehend how much actual demand there is. But who knows.
The "official" rate for NGN-USD is around 450 right now, but the actual "market" rate is closer to 800. So the prices you cited with a Naira conversation are actually around half that.
I'd be curious to see how many of these passengers actually show up for their return flight, or will they follow in the footsteps of their brethren that traveled on charter flights from West Africa to Barbados (2008) and Jamaica (2020), where most either faded into their host society or were subsequently apprehended as far afield as Mexico, Cuba and Brazil.
Scheduled package illegal immigration tours + government handout grift makes a lot more sense than whatever else you might think this “airline” is selling!
I'm in Lagos right now and converted 200 usd at a rate of 785/dollar. There's places that might do 800, but I went to a trusted location instead.
I was once in Nigeria , in Lagos specifically and Nigeria is the only country so far which I will never ever set my foot in. Corruption is beyond imagination and I never felt more unsafe than in Lagos. This business plan offering flights between Lagos and the Caribbean sounds more than suspicious.
Isn’t there a Dominican airline also starting service to connect North America & West Africa?
The humor of this is not lost on me. A Nigerian printing company backing an airline ….♂️
Sounds genuine. Lol. A printing company ( cough cough). Printing what ? Money ?
The plan a fleet of 787 and 777 transporting customers to Los Angeles, New York, Miami, London, Paris, Rome, Tokyo and Singapore via Lagos. West Africa’s equivalent of changi airport haha More likely changi Prison
You should crowd fund the price of a trip for review. The entertainment factor alone would be worth $25 per reader.
Ah yes! My Nigerian prince promised to do just this once he receives my investment money. 😉
And regarding service to YYZ, do they really think the Canadian authorities would license a carrier not substantially owned and effectively controlled by homeland (Antigua & Barbuda) nationals?
As an Antiguan, I can tell you this did happen. I can also tell you this plane was most likely full of election materials. You can't book any tickets, and there are no local numbers. Only around 20 people were on that plane, and it was funded by our citizens by investment program (they got passports).
It's all 3rd world country election gimmicks guys.
Are the fares quoted in US dollar or Eastern Caribbean dollar (the local currency in ATG)? If in XCD, they would be equivalent to USD 1,266, USD 1,603, and USD 3,375.
The investors are basically acquiring Antiguan citizenship through their investment in the airline.
Is the plane painted up that way? Would be an awesome spot (probably one time only)
Exactly my thoughts.. This is has more to do with the US southern border than with anything else.
This is very much similar to what I said for comments the other day. Many of these airlines that do not have many flights or partnerships, etc charge a lot of money and charge more than proper airlines so for most people it would not be worth doing. Then as others commented you need to consider people's other intentions or reasons for doing it.
Ben please explain the Exchange Rate issue at hand here. Same as in Lebanon currently.
It is in EuroAtlantic livery with a sticker saying Antigua Airways. Nothing exciting unfortunately.
Glad to see racism alive and well in this write up, and the comments. Not everything out of Nigeria is fraudulent. Oh great white masters!
Heard some students were given free seats to fill the plane. No accommodation plans when they arrive in Antigua. Not an auspicious start.
At best this is a cynical review and at worst downright nasty!
As a descendant of Antiguan parentage and the Atlantic slave trade I think this initiative is brilliant. It connects us to our true motherland and should be applauded. This is the big picture as far as I am concerned. So, if somewhat an unorthodox and shaky a start, it is a start and I pray for its success. It’s no surprise that it is being criticised however - any attempt for us to progress is often shot down in flames. I wish the airline every success!
Yusuf I agree with you 100%
I am saddened by the article and even more by the comments. The big picture is an attempt has been made to re establish our connection to our ancestors. It probably would never have been done perfectly but it can be built on - for me this is a fantastic venture. It’s not all about money
Some of the poor passengers didn't get back on the return flight and having checked out of their cheap accomodations are now wandering around.
We appreciate their efforts and thank them for the start you can get to serious business unless you start it, its, still a verging airline let see wat different its to make
agree 100%
its about time we reconnected with our brothers and sisters on the motherland
Kindly do not mix the flight of Dec 2020 from Lagos to Jamaica into any of this mix. It was a reputable flight strengthening bilateral relationship between the both countries - 50 years after- with the Foreign Minister of Nigeria and several other Goverment officials on it and the immigration have the records of the numbers of entry and exit as a balance. I know this because I was the charterer! And not all of these flights are for trafficking- some genuinely want to make a difference and connect The Caribbean & Africa.
There is no such airline, but chartered flights that travel one-way. Why are the Africans stranded in Antigua with no accommodations? They walk the streets with their travel bags. #TravelScam.