Tag Archives: Caribbean Airlines

Caribbean Airlines to end Georgetown-Toronto service

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) is dropping the Georgetown – Toronto (Pearson) route on February 25 per Airline Route. The route is currently operated two days a week with Boeing 737-800 aircraft.

In other news, the company will also add Boeing 767-300 service on the Port of Spain – New York (JFK) route from January 15 through March 27, supplementing existing twice-daily Boeing 737-800 service.

Caribbean Airlines aircraft slide show:

http://airlinersgallery.smugmug.com/Airlines-Caribbean/Airlines-Caribbean-AZ/Caribbean-Airlines

Is the Air Jamaica brand facing the final extinction?

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain), as we first reported in July of 2012, was modifying its aircraft that were painted in the Air Jamaica (Kingston) brand. The Trinidad and Tobago Civil Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) in 2012 mandated Caribbean Airlines must drop the Air Jamaica brand because of the conditions of their Air Operators Certificate (AOC) that it operate under one name. The first casualty was the pictured Boeing 737-8Q8 9Y-JMA (msn 30645) “Spirit of Kingston” which was sporting Caribbean Airlines titles on the Air Jamaica 2011 livery in 2012. The airliner previously had full Air Jamaica titles and color scheme.

This thorny issue, one of national pride in Jamaica, has moved slowly since the issue first emerged in 2012. Now Caribbean Airlines has repainted 9Y-JMA (above) with full Caribbean Airlines titles (minus the tail logo) eliminating the Air Jamaica colors. The aircraft re-entered revenue service on the February 23, 2014. This new change may be a new signal that Caribbean has decided to move ahead with the mandated one brand ruling eliminating the iconic Air Jamaica brand and name.

Caribbean Airlines had previously adopted a “two brands, one airline” marketing strategy to mainly keep alive the Air Jamaica brand, especially for the Jamaican market. Because the aircraft were intermingled between markets, this often led to a diverse identity in the two main markets.

A report by The Gleaner of June 19, 2013 reported the government of Jamaica (which retains a 16 percent share) was concerned about the reduction of flights by Caribbean Airlines to the island nation. Caribbean Airlines reduced the number of flights to Jamaica on April 16, 2013. The new CAL board was given a month to come back with a new development plan for Air Jamaica. Previously the Jamaican government has threatened to withdraw the Air Jamaica brand from the combined airline per Caribbean 360.

Read the full report The Gleamer: CLICK HERE

Read the full report from Caribbean 360: CLICK HERE

Finally, if this drama was not enough, Trinidad and Tobago Newsday reported Caribbean Airlines and Bahamasair (Nassau) in January 2014 were holding discussions on possible closer ties. Will this lead to a three-brand airline? Not likely.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

In addition, Americans were warned not to fly Caribbean Airlines to and from Guyana because of possible threats against the carrier.

In conclusion, Caribbean Airlines needs to make a final decision of this difficult national pride issue and move ahead towards profitability once again.

Read the full report from Reuters: CLICK HERE

Top Copyright Photo: Nigel Steele/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 737-8Q8 9Y-JMA (msn 30645) arrives back at the Port of Spain base with the new (almost full) identity.

Caribbean Airlines:

Air Jamaica:

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Caribbean Airlines puts its first Boeing 767-300 into revenue service today

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) put their newly-acquired Boeing 767-300 into revenue service today (November 3) from Port of Spain to Toronto (Pearson) as flight BW 610.

Copyright Photo: Nigel Steele. The former LAN Airlines Boeing 767-316 ER 9Y-LHR (msn 27597, ex CC-CDP) climbs away from Port of Spain, Tobago on the historic first flight today.

Caribbean Airlines:

Caribbean Airlines takes delivery of its second Boeing 767-300 ER

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) on August 31, 2012 accepted this former LAN Airlines Boeing 767-316 ER, its second copy of the type. The pictured 767-316 ER is now appropriately registered as 9Y-LHR (msn 27597, ex CC-CDP) in salute of London Heathrow Airport, served for many years by BWIA.

Copyright Photo: Nigel Steele. 9Y-LHR is pictured arriving at the POS base on August 31. Like the first (9Y-LGW), it also carries the special “Celebrating 50 Years of Independence” emblem.

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Caribbean Airlines takes delivery of its first Boeing 767-300

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) yesterday (August 28) took delivery of its first (of two) Boeing 767-300. The former LAN Airlines (Santiago) Boeing 767-316 ER CC-CEB (msn 26327) is now registered appropriately as 9Y-LGW. The wide-body airliner was greeted with the traditional water cannon salute at POS on its arrival. Caribbean is planning to restore London (Gatwick) service from both Barbados and Trinidad with this new type.

The pictured 9Y-LGW also carries a special “Trinidad and Tobago – Celebrating 50 Years of Independence” logo.

Caribbean Airlines Slide Show:

Caribbean Airlines is forced to remove the Air Jamaica brand

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) is now modifying its aircraft that were painted in the Air Jamaica brand. The Trinidad and Tobago Civil Civil Aviation Authority (TTCAA) has mandated Caribbean Airlines must drop the Air Jamaica brand because of the conditions of their Air Operators Certificate (AOC). The first casualty is the pictured Boeing 737-8Q8 9Y-JMA (msn 30645) “Spirit of Kingston” (above) which is now sporting Caribbean Airlines titles on the Air Jamaica 2011 livery. The airliner previously had Air Jamaica titles (below).

Caribbean Airlines had previously adopted a “two brands, one airline” marketing strategy to mainly keep alive the Air Jamaica brand, especially for the Jamaican market. Because the aircraft were intermingled between markets, this order is likely to finally kill the Air Jamaica name.

Top Copyright Photo: Nigel Steele.

Caribbean Airlines:

Air Jamaica:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Reinhard Zinabold.

Caribbean Airlines arrives in London with help of Omni Air International

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) has brought the “BW” code back to London. Previously BWIA West Indies Airways (Port of Spain) dropped the route five years ago. The flag carrier launched twice-weekly Port of Spain-London (Gatwick) service on June 14 (arriving at LGW on June 15) with a wet leased Boeing 767-300 from Omni Air International-OAI (Tulsa). Caribbean is leasing the aircraft from Omni for the route pending the delivery of two Boeing 767-300s (msn 26327 and 27597) from LAN Airlines (Santiago).

According to the Trinidad Express the first flight was 65 percent filled.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

In other news, Caribbean Airlines will terminate the Air Jamaica (Kingston) route linking Montego Bay and Philadelphia on July 1.

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Air Jamaica:

Caribbean Airlines to fly to London Gatwick with Boeing 767-300 ERs

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) has announced it will fly from Piarco, Trinidad to London Gatwick, with four weekly nonstop flights on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, starting June 14, 2012. Flights will depart Port of Spain, Trinidad at 7:10 p.m. (1910) local time and out of London Gatwick on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 11:50 a.m. (1150) local time.

This will be followed shortly by three flights a week via Bridgetown, Barbados and onward to London thus facilitating a daily service out of Trinidad. The Barbados flight will be launched in the summer of 2012. Both services will be operated by a Boeing 767-300 ER aircraft with a two class configuration of Business and Economy.

This is a new type for the flag carrier and restores London service previously operated as BWIA West Indies Airways. BWIA previously served Heathrow Airport.

Caribbean Airlines replaced BWIA after 66 years of flying on January 1, 2007.

BWIA Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Caribbean Slide Show: CLICK HERE

Is Caribbean Airlines facing a cash crunch?

Caribbean Airlines (Port of Spain) according to this report by the Trinidad Express Newspapers, has failed to meet its promised $5 million payment to Children’s Life Fund, a charity favored by the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago.

Also according to the report, CAL owes National Petroleum approximately $29 million for aviation fuel.

The airline has recently reduced staff in the Air Jamaica operation.

Also according to the report, the airline has been unable to take delivery of the third and fourth new ATR 72-600 due to not being able to meet the payments.

As the flag carrier, Caribbean Airlines receives a fuel subsidy which grounded REDjet did not receive and was critical.

Finallly, the airline is also reportedly looking at its two-brands policy (maintaining the Air Jamaica brand).

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

Caribbean Airlines Slide Show: CLICK HERE