FlyMontserrat reports that its three Islanders have been busy so far this year, with frequent destinations including Antigua, Montserrat and St. Barths. “We have been running plenty of medevac flights and scheduled passenger services,” reveals CEO Nigel Harris. “Charters from Trinidad North to the Dominican Republic are common. Both COVID-19 and the demise of LIAT have proved huge challenges for us, but also opportunities.

The team have flown everything from dangerous goods to live chickens, and Harris goes on to say a FlyMontserrat aircraft recently landed at Princess Juliana International airport to find it completely deserted: “It took ages to find anyone at all.”

During the pandemic, the operator has organised flights for hazmat (test samples of COVID-19), dry ice, protective equipment, test equipment, live animals and medevac. It has noticed an increase in charters when borders have been partially closed. “VIP charters have increased, and so has freight work. As one of the few operators approved for dangerous goods and medevac, and as a holder of UK and EASA AOC approvals, we are able to fly to French and Dutch territories,” Harris concludes.