The Mixed Commercial Court of Pointe-à-Pitre has ordered the judicial liquidation of Air Antilles, marking the end of operations for the French Caribbean airline. The ruling requires an immediate cessation of flights, leaving the carrier grounded permanently after a series of financial and operational setbacks.
Air Antilles, which served routes across the French West Indies with a fleet of four aircraft including two ATR 72s, one ATR 42, and one De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, had its operating license revoked by France’s Direction de la Sécurité de l’Aviation Civile in December 2025 following a failed safety audit. The airline initially promised affected passengers updates on potential restarts via its website, but no recovery materialized.
The decision stems from the parent company, Compagnie Aérienne Interrégionale Express (CAIRE), which also operates Air Guyane, facing liabilities exceeding 56 million euros amid persistent operating losses. Strikes by pilots over unpaid wage increases, costing up to 120,000 euros daily, compounded the crisis after CAIRE filed for suspension of payments in July. A court-appointed administrator deemed recovery plans unviable, rejecting acquisition offers from local hedge funds and holding companies as insufficient.
The liquidation impacts around 300 employees across CAIRE’s operations, including 116 flight crew at Air Antilles, with the fleet now set for sale. A two-month continuation period was granted earlier for Air Antilles and Air Guyane while seeking buyers, but the court ultimately prioritized full wind-down.