Against a backdrop of lingering public health concerns over Ebola in parts of Africa and hard-learned lessons from a past migrant controversy, the government of Antigua and Barbuda is moving forward with extreme caution on the proposed new Air Peace passenger service connecting Nigeria to the Caribbean, Prime Minister Gaston Browne has confirmed. Speaking during an interview with local outlet Pointe FM on Saturday, Browne outlined that the administration is holding a “very conservative position” on the planned route originating from Lagos, a direct response to the major complications the nation faced during the ill-fated Antigua Airways operation that unfolded between late 2022 and early 2023.
The prime minister made clear that the previous incident left lasting impacts on the country’s policy approach: “We got burnt there, so we’ve been a little cautious.” He detailed how the 2022-2023 crisis unfolded: Antigua Airways marketed flights as bringing tourists to the Caribbean nation, but in reality, most passengers were conflict migrants from Cameroon who transited through Nigeria on their way to Antigua, with the ultimate goal of reaching the United States illegally.
In response to the crisis, Antigua and Barbuda’s government made the decision to suspend the Antigua Airways flights, in large part to avoid any perception that the nation was enabling human trafficking. “We didn’t want anybody to think, even erroneously, that we were facilitating any form of trafficking of people,” Browne emphasized. The fallout extended far beyond the initial landing of the flights, he added: roughly 600 migrants refused voluntary repatriation to Africa, and many began attempting to travel onward illegally by small boat to the United States, creating prolonged enforcement and humanitarian challenges for the small island nation.
Despite the cautious approach to the new Air Peace route, Browne stressed that Antigua and Barbuda remains deeply committed to building stronger air connectivity between Africa and the Caribbean. The nation has long been a pioneer in establishing the “air bridge” between the two regions, he noted, and that core commitment has not changed. That said, the recent resurgence of Ebola concerns in parts of Africa has added an extra layer of urgency to the government’s need for precautionary measures.
In practical terms, the cautious approach means the inaugural scheduled Air Peace flight will likely not land in Antigua as originally planned. Instead, the service will fly directly to Barbados first, with passengers bound for Antigua transported onward to the country via regional carrier LIAT. To mitigate public health risks, the government is already moving to reinstate enhanced screening protocols at Antiguan airports, including the return of infrared thermal scanners and alignment with strict international public health standards. The nation’s Infectious Disease Centre has also been reactivated as a preventative measure to monitor and respond to any potential health threats linked to incoming travel.
