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Air Antilles Ordered Into Liquidation With Immediate Shutdown

The ruling follows a months-long grounding over safety failings that exposed the collapse of a €20 million public-backed relaunch.

Overview

  • Air Antilles, which a Pointe-à-Pitre commercial court ruled on Monday to liquidate, must stop operations at once, affecting about 116 employees.
  • The fleet has been grounded since December 8, 2025, after France’s civil aviation authority found missing documentation and weak safety organization.
  • The court said a rescue could not proceed because liabilities exceed €56 million and operating losses continued during the observation period.
  • Takeover options unraveled as the only full-activity bid aimed to keep just 13–14 jobs, a London-based proposal was withdrawn, and a partial offer covered one aircraft with no staff.
  • The shutdown leaves Air Caraïbes as the lone airline linking Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy, raising concerns about higher fares and reduced access for residents.