Caribbean Airlines Defends Tobago Service

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is pushing hard to have everything in place for its return to London from Port-of-Spain, but because the Arthur Lok Jack Board, which initiated and managed the change from BWIA to CAL sold the prized Heathrow slots, which BWIA had used for decades, the new service to London has no choice but to now land at Gatwick International.

The new destination advertising seems to be in place, starting with a full color, full-page advertisement in the inflight magazine Caribbean Beat, which has a headline “London…. just got closer”. “Caribbean Airlines introduces its NON-STOP service from Port-of-Spain to London”. Business Day understands that while the advertisement has already appeared in other markets, it is yet to make an appearance in the Trinidad and Tobago press.

While the advertisement does not give a start date, Chairman George Nicholas III had, a few weeks ago, identified the start date as June 15 2012. The planned equipment to be used for the daily transatlantic service are two used Boeing aircraft - B-767ER-200 - leased from the Chilean airline Lan Chile. Reports out of Piarco reveal that the first aircraft, painted in CAL colors and the complete livery of Caribbean Airlines, is expected at Piarco on April 10 2012. The second is expected at the end of May.

Meanwhile an upbeat message from Team Caribbean Airlines published in the March/April edition of Caribbean Beat and placed opposite the new London advertisement, reads, “At Caribbean Airlines, the pace is now picking up as our teams throughout our network are preparing to launch our most anticipated route to date. It’s official: Caribbean Airline is heading to London!”

The article also boasts that “the Boeing 767 will be the fourth aircraft type to be operated by our airline, joining our most recently inducted fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft and our primary Boeing 737-800 and Dash-8 fleets. The story also claims that London would bring “many opportunities, such as strengthening and expanding our cargo presence and allowing us access to lucrative markets in Europe.”

Meanwhile the hometown airline was forced to resort to paid print advertising to defend itself against accusations from an institution in Tobago that it was not doing enough for the sister isle. The State-owned airline made out its case in full page color advertisements last weekend.

Countering accusations by member (s) of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) that it had “not been supportive” and it was “not being as co-operative as it should have been in assisting Tobago in making its mark or in being able to have a more formidable presence in the international tourism market.”

In its response, CAL stated that Caribbean Airlines in many ways had proven itself as a dedicated partner in support of the development of Tobago for many years and gave statistics to back up its defense. “Caribbean Airlines continues to provide a reliable service on the air bridge increasing its passenger capacity by 6.25 per cent over a three-year period and recording a 9.6 per cent increase in passenger loads between 2010 and 2011.” The statement pointed out that 660,000 passengers were transported in 2010 and this increased by 20,000 to 680,000 in 2011.

CAL operates it air bridge services using its five 50-seat Dash-8-300 turbo proper aircraft and late last year enhanced its fleet with the addition of two larger 68-seat ATR 72-600 turbo prop aircraft. A third ATR was supposed to have arrived shortly after Carnival, but reports out of Piarco were not able to give a new arrival date, nor what was causing the delay.

The airline pointed out that it operates 22 daily flights between the ANRobinson International Airport at Crown Point and Piarco International and claimed it gave passengers the greatest convenience and access to international flights departing Trinidad.

The statement went on to reveal that with the recent introduction of the two “red eye” services, Tobago was now enjoying more connecting flights at more times to Caribbean Airlines’ main hub at Piarco and providing more opportunities for connections to international flights out of Piarco.

In December 2010 Caribbean Airlines inaugurated direct service between Tobago and New York every Sunday. But according to the statement, “since the addition of this service CAL, has recorded a 44 per cent average load factor which peaks during the standard high periods.”

In spite of this situation requests were made by Tobago for a second flight to New York, but the airline countered, “With an estimated average of 33 passengers per flight in the off peak and 45 in the peak, Caribbean Airlines cannot add an additional service until there is sufficient passenger demand.”

The statement goes on, “At Caribbean Airlines, we have always invested in improving the flight experience for the air bridge,” demonstrating its commitment to Tobago by adding flights during peak travel times like summer, Easter and for other seasonal events such as Great Race and the Jazz Festival.