MARIGOT – Regional carrier Air Antilles, majority-owned by the Collectivité of Saint-Martin, has received a temporary license extension until January 31, 2026, offering the struggling airline a brief window of stability. The extension — the first lasting more than a month — is seen as a positive sign that could help attract investors, even as the company’s financial future remains uncertain.
Air Antilles’ survival now depends on raising €10 million in fresh capital, a goal its management is urgently pursuing. Negotiations are ongoing between Saint-Martin President Louis Mussington and potential investors, including the German aviation investment group Panaf. The aim is to establish new partnerships between regional and transatlantic carriers to strengthen the company’s operations.
Load factor
Since resuming service in mid-2024, Air Antilles has carried nearly 100,000 passengers, maintaining an 80% load factor and a 15% rise in traffic this year. While the latest license renewal signals confidence in the airline’s recovery plan, Saint-Martin’s government insists it intends to retain control of the company, viewing its continuity as vital to regional mobility and economic stability.
