Caribbean Airlines

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Caribbean Airlines
IATA
BW		 ICAO
BWA		 Callsign
CARIBBEAN AIRLINES
Founded 2006
Hubs Piarco International Airport
Frequent flyer program Caribbean Miles
Member lounge Club Caribbean
Fleet size 12
Destinations 13
Headquarters Flag of Trinidad and TobagoPort of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Key people Mr. Philip Saunders

(CEO)

Mr. Arthur Lok Jack

(Chairman)
Website: http://www.caribbean-airlines.com

Caribbean Airlines is the national airline of Trinidad and Tobago. It operates international services in the Caribbean and to the United States, Canada and South America. Its main base is Piarco International Airport, Trinidad.[1]

Contents

[edit] History

Caribbean Airlines was incorporated in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on September 27, 2006. For legal purposes the airline has a fully owned subsidiary in the United Kingdom, named Caribbean Airlines (UK) Ltd.[2] that was registered on October 4, 2006.

The company commenced operations on January 1, 2007 and operates the routes formerly handled by BWIA West Indies Airways.[3]

Caribbean Airlines got approval on September 2006 from the Trinidad and Tobago Government to begin operations, after the failed negotiations between the unions and the management of its predecessor BWIA, and took to the skies on January 1, 2007. The airline got just over US$350 million to start its operations; US$250 million to close BWIA, pay off employee severance, creditors etc. and, approximately US$85 million to fund the operations of Caribbean Airlines. During the last quarter of 2006, in an effort to scale down operations for the start of Caribbean Airlines, BWIA's management cut routes such as Washington Dulles International Airport, Manchester Airport and London Heathrow Airport, cut its fleet to 6 Boeing 737-800 aircraft, each to be retrofitted with winglets to obtain maximum efficiency and reduced its staff to 600. Currently, Caribbean Airlines is still streamlining its operations from BWIA and is said to be looking to aggressively expand into new routes in the US, the CEO cited that a new US route will begin by year's end, and to expand its fleet.[citation needed]

Caribbean Airlines is based in Port of Spain, Trinidad and is 100% owned by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Caribbean Airlines has regional services from Jamaica to the Southern Caribbean including Suriname, Guyana and Caracas. The airline also serves the United States (Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, and New York), Canada (Toronto) and has established a code share with British Airways, for services to London and beyond.

Caribbean Airlines, as of October 1st 2007, took full control of Tobago Express, its domestic arm at a cost of US$24million. The money will help Tobago Express bring its entire fleet of Bombardier Dash-8 Q300 up to international standards and will see new destinations throughout the Caribbean.

The airline was proud to announce an on-time performance of 86% in 2007, after its first 365 days of operations.

Caribbean Airlines, by May 28th 2008, acquired a 7th Boeing 737-800 aircraft (9Y-SLU) and an 8th is expected to arrive for the summer period. The airline has added two new routes to its network for 2008, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (4 flights/week) and Caracas-Simón Bolívar International Airport (daily). The frequencies of the New York service has been increased to 3 flights daily and the Toronto service has been increased to 10 flights weekly.

[edit] Logo

Caribbean Airline's image is a hummingbird in flight and other species of birds that are native to the Caribbean. The image is a reference to the republic of Trinidad and Tobago where the island of Trinidad is known as "the land of the hummingbird".[4] All aircraft in the fleet will carry the flag of Trinidad and Tobago as well as the flag of CARICOM [5].

[edit] Secondary Logos

Caribbean Airlines will feature 5 special designs on the tails of their Dash-8 fleet this year. The first design called 'Caribbean Flava' is already features on 9Y-WIP. It features the Caribbean Airlines Hummingbird, a pair of 'maracas' or 'chac chacs', a palm leaf, a Hibiscus and other flower/ foliage. This design caused some controversy as it originally featured the Baliser flower (Heliconia) which is the symbol of the ruling political party of Trinidad and Tobago. As a result of political tensions sturred by the idea of the Baliser flower on the tail of the aircraft, the airline removed the image before March 9th, 2008 to allow that aircraft to operate the inaugural flight from POS-CCS.

Other Dash-8 tail designs will be entitled: 'Caribbean Aquatic', 'Caribbean Culture', 'Caribbean Indigenous' and 'Caribbean Life'.

[edit] Destinations

Further information: Caribbean Airlines destinations

[edit] Code Share

Caribbean Airlines code share with the following:

[edit] Fleet

Caribbean Airlines Airbus A340-300 taking off in January 2007. This aircraft temporarily retained the colours of Caribbean Airlines' predecessor airline until leaving the fleet – BWIA West Indies Airways
Caribbean Airlines Airbus A340-300 taking off in January 2007. This aircraft temporarily retained the colours of Caribbean Airlines' predecessor airline until leaving the fleet – BWIA West Indies Airways

The Caribbean Airlines fleet consists of the following aircraft (at May 2008):[1]

Caribbean Airlines Fleet
Aircraft Total Passengers
(Business Class/Economy)		 Notes
Boeing 737-800 7
 154 (16/138) [6]
160 (12/148) [1]		 Leased from the International Lease Finance Corporation
Bombardier Dash-8 Q300 5
 50 (All Economy)

[edit] Cabins

Caribbean Airlines offers 2 classes of service onboard its Boeing 737-800 aircraft. While on the Bombardier Dash-8 Q300 only one class of service is on offer.

[edit] Business Class Boeing 737

This premium cabin is configured in a 2x2 format with a total of 16 seats with 38 inches pitch. This offers customers dedicated check-in, access to business lounges, priority boarding and baggage retrieval, VIP meals, both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages (including champagne) and fast track facilities. The newly acquired Boeing 737-800 (9Y-SLU) is outfitted with a business class layout of 12 seats with 39 inches pitch.

[edit] Economy Class Boeing 737

This cabin on the 737 offers 32" seat pitch at a 3x3 configuration. On some flights hot meals and drinks are offered which are free. In-flight entertainment of a movie and featured movie showcasing Caribbean culture is shown on longer-hauls to Miami, Jamaica, New York, and Toronto. The movie showcasing Caribbean culture is also shown on Caribbean routes using this aircraft.

[edit] Economy Class Dash 8

This cabin on the Dash 8 offers 32" pitch in a 2x2 configuration. This service is available on the Trinidad & Tobago air bridge, Trinidad to Caracas service, and the Tobago to Barbados service. The Dash 8 is also being introduced on the Trinidad to Barbados service which has continuing service from Bridgetown, Barbados to Georgetown Guyana.

On the flight to London which is operated by British Airways, customers can choose to fly BA's Award Winning Club World (International Business Class), World Traveller Plus (Premium Economy), and World Traveller (International Economy).

[edit] Caribbean Beat

The Caribbean Beat is a complementary inflight magazine available on all Caribbean Airlines flights in both cabins. Caribbean Beat is a bimonthly magazine that covers the arts, culture, and society of the Caribbean with a section that showcases the in-flight entertainment available to Caribbean Airlines passengers.

[edit] Club Caribbean

Club Caribbean is a membership program.

In addition to check-in at the Business Class counter and use of the Business Class lounges at specified airports, there is a range of Club Caribbean benefits.

Lounge Access

Antigua: VC Bird International Airport, “Big Banana Lounge”

Trinidad: Piarco International Airport “Club Caribbean”

Barbados: Grantley Adams International Airport “Club Caribbean”

Guyana: Cheddi B. Jagan International Airport “Rorima Lounge”

St Maarten: Princess Juliana Airport “The Soualiga Business Class Lounge”

Jamaica: Norman Manley Airport “British Airways Club World Lounge”

New York: John F Kennedy International Airport “Swissport Lounge”

Miami: Miami International Airport “Club America”

Toronto: Lester B Pearson International Airport “KLM Crown Lounge”

Suriname: Zanderij International Airport, "Sabaku Lounge"

[edit] Caribbean Miles

Caribbean Airlines' frequent flyer program is Caribbean Miles that can be used for upgrades to a higher class or free reward trips.

[edit] Caribbean Airlines Executive Jet Service

 The neutrality of this article is disputed.
Please see the discussion on the talk page.(March 2008)
Please do not remove this message until the dispute is resolved.

On March 1st 2008, Caribbean Airlines announced it would source a business jet form Bombardier Co. to initiate a charter subsidiary offering services to various Regional Governments and Regional corporations seeking the flexibility and exclusivity offered by a private jet. Since then plans to acquire the highly controversial jet have been put on hold. Airline employees continue to investigate their options in purchasing a private jet. Talks continue with Bombardier as well as other companies such as Embraer, Gulfstream and Cessna, all of whom produce high quality private jets. Once officially started, the new services should prove highly successful and comes at a time when Trinidad and Tobago Government officials are expected to be flying to West Africa and to Central and South America more frequently to deepen trade and cultural links. Furthermore, a private jet service, which could possibly start as early as the 4th qr 2008 (subject to sourcing a suitable aircraft) should be attractive to Trinidadian businessmen who recently have been expanding very aggressively across the region. Trade and Industry Minister, Colm Imbert has suggested that Government favours a buy and lease back arrangement rather than a purchase and own and operate scenario. It is yet to be seen which route Caribbean Airlines will undertake in the future.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Flight International 3 April 2007
  2. ^ Trinidad Express: 'Caribbean Airlines (UK)' was a must
  3. ^ Trinidad Express: Bye Bye BWEE, Hello Caribbean Airlines
  4. ^ Caribbean Media Corporation: Hummingbird for BWee's replacement
  5. ^ Caribbean Airlines Airplane Picture @ Airliners.net

[edit] Articles and news

[edit] See also

[edit] External links