Marigot, Saint-Martin:--- The Commercial Court of Pointe-à-Pitre has just validated the offer to take over the assets of Air Antilles by the group made up of the Overseas Territorial Collectivity of Saint-Martin and EDEIS.
This decision follows the judicial liquidation of the CAIRE group, the parent company of Air Antilles and Air Guyane. No less than 5 takeover offers were then submitted. The seriousness, expertise, and credibility of the group were all parameters taken into account by the Court in order to render its decision in favor of the COM Saint-Martin group and EDEIS, through the local SEM New Air Antilles.
The selected project is based on two main objectives:
- Sustaining Air Antilles’ activity
- Promote the opening up of the territories of our region in the service of its inhabitants It is with this dual responsibility that the Collectivité de Saint-Martin/EDEIS consortium has built an offer including:
- The takeover of 120 employees,
- The immediate resumption of four aircraft and the addition of a 5th in the short term,
- The concentration on desert lines in the territories of the French West Indies, departing from Pointe-à-Pitre and bound for Fort-de-France, Saint-Martin Grand-Case and Saint-Barthélemy,
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The creation of a Local Mixed Economy Company, New Air Antilles, with a capital of 2 million euros, 60% owned by the Collectivity of Saint-Martin and 40% by EDEIS.
The COM of Saint-Martin and EDEIS (already managers of the overseas airports of Saint-Martin and Mayotte) thus reinforce their driving role for regional mobility serving the populations of the Antilles.
“My team and I are delighted that the Commercial Court, as well as the employees of Air Antilles, have understood the approach of the Collectivity of Saint-Martin and its partner EDEIS. We are resolutely part of an innovative logic of action and public policies, serving territorial development, territorial continuity, and cooperation in our region.
In this sense, it was important for the Community to position itself as a committed and strong public actor in favor of the general interest. We are now hopeful of finding, with the help of our experts, a balance between a virtuous economic model, and an obligation of territorial continuity and the fight against the high cost of living, among others.
Today, I would like to reassure employees, users of our lines, and our partners: that we will do everything we can to restore dialogue and trust. It’s in all of our interests,” says Mr. Louis MUSSINGTON, president of the COM de Saint-Martin.
Jean-Luc Schnoebelen, President of Edeis, declares: “It is a great pride and a great responsibility to take over Air Antilles two decades after its creation. We are convinced that the West Indians must be able to benefit from an accessible and adapted transport offer, essential to opening up their territories.”
