MARIGOT - The Commercial Court of Pointe-à-Pitre has officially approved the takeover of the assets of Air Antilles by the consortium consisting of the Overseas Territorial Collectivity of Saint Martin and EDEIS.
The decision comes after the CAIRE Group, the parent company of Air Antilles and Air Guyane, entered bankruptcy proceedings. This resulted in five groups ultimately seeking to acquire the company for a restart. The court cited factors such as the credibility, expertise, and seriousness of the COM Saint-Martin group and EDEIS in its decision.
In the new company, the Collectivité holds 60% of the ownership, while EDEIS holds 40%.
The project has two main objectives: preserving the operations of Air Antilles and enhancing connectivity for the region's residents. The consortium's offer includes taking on 120 employees, the immediate resumption of four aircraft, with plans to add a fifth, and a focus on essential routes in the French Antilles, departing from Pointe-à-Pitre to Fort-de-France, Saint-Martin Grand-Case, and Saint-Barthélemy. The takeover does not apply to the operations of Air Guyane, which operates in French Guiana.
Regional Mobility
The COM of Saint-Martin and EDEIS, which already manage overseas airports in Saint-Martin and Mayotte, are strengthening their role in improving regional mobility for the benefit of the Antilles population.
Louis Mussington, President of the COM de Saint-Martin, emphasized his commitment to innovative government policies that support territorial development, continuity, and regional cooperation. Jean-Luc Schnoebelen, President of EDEIS, highlighted the importance of providing accessible and suitable transportation options for West Indians to promote territorial development and connectivity.
Turbulence
While Air Antilles had been prospering for many years, the company faced difficulties over a year ago, including issues found during an inspection by the French Civil Aviation Authority and tensions between the shareholders and a significant portion of the workforce, leading to a prolonged strike. Additionally, last month, an Air Antilles Twin Otter aircraft collided with a helicopter parked on the platform at the St. Barths airport during landing.
Air Antilles had a close partnership with WINAIR until mid-2023, providing aircraft with complete crews for flights between St. Maarten and the ABC islands. WINAIR now operates these flights under its own name and with its own aircraft.