Spirits were high at a cocktail reception hosted by the Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Tourism and the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority to mark British Airways 60th anniversary of flying to Antigua.
Cultural dancers and the melodious sounds of a steel band set the celebratory mood during the arrival of British Airways executives, hoteliers, aviation, and tourism stakeholders. Among the guests were representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association, the Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority and the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda.
Speaking at the event Minister of Tourism and Investment, Charles Fernandez congratulated the airline on the excellent relationship created throughout the 60-year period. He expressed interest in continued collaboration and the further growth of flights to the destination.
“British Airways has for 60 years connected travellers from the UK and Europe to Antigua and Barbuda, allowing us to share our culture, our heritage, our hospitality, and the beauty of our destination. As a trusted partner, British Airways is interwoven into our tourism story. We share a rich history — from destination partnerships, marketing campaigns, to unwavering support during times of need, they have without a doubt contributed to the success of our tourism product. As we share in this momentous occasion, we congratulate and applaud BA. We look forward to many more years of partnership, and a mutually rewarding relationship with our twin-island paradise,” he said.
British Airways, Regional Director (Antigua, St Kitts, and Turks & Caicos) Patrice Skerritt expressed appreciation for the recognition of what she described as a “milestone”.
“British Airways has always had a very strong relationship with Antigua and Barbuda and for 60 years — three generations — we have flown visitors to enjoy holidays, and we have reunited our Caribbean friends and family both here in the region and in London and beyond,” she noted.
Skerritt thanked the gathering for joining in the anniversary celebrations and noted that the airline looked forward to serving the route for many more years to come.
The was a sense of nostalgia to the event as CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C James shared tales of the airline from its first voyage to Antigua in 1962; their 1965 corporate sponsorship of Antigua Carnival; the November 2, 1984 arrival of the Concorde to Antigua; and the development of a modern day partnership considered a “marriage made in heaven, with an airline that has always served the destination well”.
In November 2019, the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority honoured British Airways as an outstanding partner by presenting the airline with a ‘Black Pineapple Award’ for their contribution to the success of the summer marketing campaign #WhatCoolLooksLike.
This year’s June 10 celebration featured the presentation of a beautiful British Airways airline sculpted cake to the airline’s Skerritt and Key Partnership Manager visiting from the UK, Marc James. British Airways was also presented with a replica of a historic photo obtained from the Museum of Antigua and Barbuda of 1965 Carnival Queen Hyacinth Barrow waving to onlookers as she prepared to board the then British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) on a prize-win flight to England. Minister Fernandez was also gifted with a 60-year commemorative plaque from the airline.
