Residents voice concern about Air Peace’s brochure offering ‘Vacation Antigua’ packages with ‘return flight’ feature
As an Air Peace flyer advertising “Vacation Antigua” has gone into
circulation, more concern is being expressed about this attempt to
bring West Africans to Antigua and Barbuda for the Carnival
festivities and whether they will return home.
These deals, which the company describes as attractive package
inclusions, list a four-night stay with accommodations in any of the
hotels chosen; breakfast in bed; return airport transfers; business
summit with transfers; Afro-beach party; a historical sightseeing
tour; a return flight ticket on Air Peace; and an Antigua Carnival
experience with other side attractions.
The flyer displays the Antigua and Barbuda flag, a beach view, and
women dressed in costumes.
Prospective patrons are being invited to experience the Carnival
delights via luxury flights to Antigua, with travel dates on August 5
and 9, 2023.
Ticket prices are being advertised at 860,000 Naira, or EC$2,993.17,
for economy class and 4,400,000 Naira or EC$15,314.87 for business
class.
Meanwhile, some residents are asking why the package deals
actually list return tickets – given that persons going abroad on
vacation should automatically have return passage.
Additionally, while the flyer says “Vacation Antigua,” it is advertising
a business summit, prompting one man to ask how it can be both at
the same time. “Isn’t vacation rest from work?” he asks.
Others want to know whether the airline is also serving as a travel
agent since it is arranging package deals and guaranteeing return
trips to the airport.
And while the flyer gives the arrival and departure dates, it does not
list the times of either. The absence of these details is of concern to
some locals, who note that the last set of West Africans arriving last
year did so in the dead of night, after the airport was closed.
Residents say they will be keeping a close eye on this attempt to
bring purportedly wealthy Nigerians to Antigua and Barbuda since
the Browne Administration admitted that it was duped three times
before.
