00:00LIA 2020 is officially operating in TNT again and its inaugural flight from Antigua landed
00:11at 9.30am, bringing with it government, aviation and other officials from that country along
00:17with its chief executive officer Hafsa Abdul-Salam.
00:20I'm affirming and I'm standing here and saying that we're committed to offering safe and
00:27reliable service. I will uphold the high standards that you expect and obviously that you deserve
00:32as well.
00:33She says LIA 2020's presence in TNT, apart from fostering more competition, will create
00:38job opportunities as the airline will be seeking to employ staff. Abdul-Salam isn't shying
00:44away from addressing the problems of the past.
00:46The old LIA acronym, and this is now then linking back to the history of LIA, leave
00:52island any time. And some people may perceive that as, or have perceived it as a negative.
00:57For us, new layout, new management, new branding, it means we'll be available to fly you when
01:05you want to fly.
01:06The airline, which has opened 12 routes since it commenced operations on August 6, 2024,
01:13will land on the runaway of the airport in Jamaica on Friday. Minister of Tourism, Culture
01:18and the Arts, Randall Mitchell, calls it a significant milestone for TNT, creating
01:22greater accessibility, which will boost travel and tourism.
01:26LIA 20 will bring an additional 250 seats daily into the Piaco International Airport,
01:35equating to approximately 1,750 seats per week. And this service links Port of Spain
01:43to key Caribbean destinations, including St. Lucia, Barbados, Antigua, St. Vincent
01:49and Grenada.
01:50The minister says the Caribbean region provides the second highest number of travellers to
01:54this country, with the first being the United States of America. He highlights statistics
02:00during the operations of LIA 1974 in the country in 2017 and 2018.
02:07Visitors to Trinidad and Tobago from the Caribbean ranged from approximately 75,000 to 82,000
02:14persons annually, accounting for more than 20% of market share in visitor arrivals.
02:22Minister of Works and Transport, Rohan Sinanan, says LIA 2020's operations are part of the
02:26broader vision for an enhanced transportation network that would create economic resilience
02:32and sustainable development.
02:34He further indicates that TNT is engaging different airlines with the intentions of
02:38the country serving as a hub for connecting different regions, including the Middle East,
02:43Asia and Africa. Sinanan states that the country has held several international aviation conferences,
02:49including CAPA and CASUS.
02:51We have just been awarded the ACI conference in 2025, again another first for the English-speaking
03:00Caribbean.
03:01Minister Sinanan is also inviting airlines, including LIA 2020, to explore the possibility
03:06of tenancy at the Aeropark at Piaco International Airport.
03:10Alicia Boucher, TV6 News.
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