CASTRIES, St. Lucia — A new chapter in South-South cooperation has commenced as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) celebrates the inaugural large-scale commercial flight directly connecting the Caribbean to the African continent. The landmark journey departed from Robert Bradshaw International Airport in St. Kitts, carrying a high-level delegation of over 100 dignitaries from eight Caribbean nations.
The Nigeria-based Aquarian Consult Limited orchestrated this transformative flight, which transported prominent business leaders, government officials, and cultural icons directly to Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Sunday. The OECS Commission, headquartered in St. Lucia, hailed this achievement as a monumental step toward regional integration and economic empowerment.
Aisha Maina, Managing Director of Aquarian Consult, encapsulated the historical significance: “We are no longer just dreaming of a bridge between our two regions; we are flying over it. This flight carries the future of Afri-Caribbean trade, tourism, and shared prosperity.”
This pioneering route establishes a direct transatlantic connection that dramatically reduces travel time from over 30 hours to a single hop, bypassing traditional layovers in Europe or North America. The OECS emphasized that this flight represents more than mere transportation—it symbolizes a “Reverse Middle Passage” that asserts direct economic and cultural ties between the regions.
The flight serves as the official prelude to the upcoming Afri-Caribbean Investment Summit (AACIS), scheduled from March 23–28 at Abuja’s Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre. Delegates will engage in high-level bilateral discussions focusing on agricultural innovation, blue economy collaboration, cultural exchange, and transformative investment opportunities.
This breakthrough establishes a primary economic corridor between the OECS and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), significantly cementing diplomatic and trade relations while demonstrating the commercial viability of permanent air links between the Global Africa family.