Last Saturday, Louis Mussington, Chairman of the Community and of the Board of Directors ofAir Antilles, summoned the press for “reestablish the truth” around a company at the heart of debates for several weeks.

Faced with the spread of rumors and false information, he wanted to dispel concerns: “What we must remember is that the operating license has been extended by an official decree until September 30, 2025. I have confirmation of a signed on August 29”.

Since the liquidation of the CAIRE group, Air Antilles has become the symbol of a battle for territorial continuity.

“We are constantly faced with false information freely disclosed by malicious people and too often relayed without verification by certain media. This process is serious, shocking, and completely unacceptable. It is nothing more or less than an attempt to weaken the company, to sow disquiet among our employees and partners, and to destroy the efforts made over the past two years to save a strategic tool for our territories,” the president insists.

For Louis Mussington, the survival of Air Antilles goes beyond the framework of a private company: “Without Air Antilles, our population will be exposed to a virtual monopoly with skyrocketing prices. Air Antilles is not just an airline, it is a de facto essential public service. to our families, our students, our businesses and our tourist appeal.”

He recalls that during the liquidation of CAIRE, Air Caribbean had doubled the price of tickets, an unsustainable situation for users.

A decisive month

La temporary license, extended until September 30, constitutes a reprieve. “We have one month to find investors and, at the end of this period, we must be able to demonstrate that we actually have investors who are ready to commit.”

Currently, four files are under study : in Guadeloupe, in France, in Germany and Nigeria“We have hired an investment bank to receive offers and proposals. If the files are valid, investors will sign a confidentiality agreement and will have access to the company's documents to decide whether to invest in the capital.”

The objective is clear: ensure financial stability. According to the president, it would be necessary at least six million euros of cash to hold, and up to twenty million to fully relaunch the company, notably to repatriate an aircraft immobilized in Morocco and cover debts. For the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (DGAC), a new investment of between 5 and ten million would be “acceptable”.

Defending a vital tool

Louis Mussington rejects certain avenues, such as the sale of aircraft in leaseback : “If we sell them, we will no longer own them but will have to rent them, and that will not solve the cash flow problem. I am against this optionHe prefers to rely on finding investors and the confidence of the State: “I will fight tooth and nail to ensure that the conversion of the temporary license into a permanent license is confirmed soon.”

The climate remains tense: “The irresponsible dissemination of false information is causing a anxious climate among employees. This climate is dangerous and threatens flight safety and the peace of mind of crews and passengers”.

The elected official says he alerted the Elysee, Matignon and Ministry of Overseas Territories. He now calls for the national solidarity : “I call on the State to take responsibility, to mobilize everyone to defend a vital tool for our collective future. Public investment in Air Antilles was not a choice of comfort, it was a choice of responsibility.”

“Save the Air Antilles soldier”

The Community has already injected more than sixteen million euros into the company, or 60% of the capital. “If investors want to buy back certain shares of the COM, I am open to dialogue.” But Louis Mussington warns, the Community's budgetary margins will not allow it to go beyond this : “We are not in a position to provide additional investments. But if it proves essential to guarantee the survival of the company, I will not fail to convene the council. To say this is the seriousness of the situation, are we going to let Air Antilles go under or will we make another move? But these are only hypotheses.”

In the short term, Louis Mussington is counting on the meeting scheduled for September 12 at the Ministry of Overseas Territories to move forward on the matter. He assures that two investors have already presented a solid case, with proof of the source of funds.

Amid malicious rumors, tight financial deadlines, and hopes for national support, the president concludes with a phrase that sums up the urgency: “I must save Private Air Antilles.” _Vx

Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/transport-aerien-air-antilles-entre-survie-et-espoir-dinvestisseurs/