Port of Spain, Trinidad – Caribbean Airlines recorded ones of its busiest periods for the just concluded Carnival season. From February 27 until March 13, 2011, the Trinidadian airline transported almost over eighty-five thousand passengers. “During this period, if we take into account both our international and domestic traffic, the airline transported 85, 808 customers with the total number for international traffic standing at 60,129 passengers. The domestic operation transported just under half that number at 25, 679 customers,” stated the airline’s Head of Corporate Communications Laura Asbjornsen.
When compared to the same Carnival period in 2010, the 2011 numbers represent an 18% increase in the number of passengers on the airline’s international routes. Significant development of the inter-island operation also took place.
Traffic between Trinidad and Tobago saw about one thousand more passengers transported compared to 2010. “In 2010, Caribbean Airlines transported 24,768 passengers to Tobago with this increasing to 25,679 passengers on the domestic route for 2011” stated Asbjornsen who noted that this capacity was set to increase further as the airline optimises its operations upon receipt of its new ATR aircraft.
Caribbean Airlines received two ATR 500 aircraft which commenced service on Friday, March 4. The aircraft are being “wet-leased” in the interim until the airline begins receiving its new ATR 600 aircraft scheduled to begin arrival in October 2011.
The airline recently announced that once all regulatory requirements are satisfied, the ATR aircraft will be used within its current network as it expands its regional operations.
On Friday, March 11, 2011, St. Lucian Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation the Honourable Senator Allen Chastanet indicated interest from the Government of St. Lucia in designating Caribbean Airlines as St. Lucia’s national carrier.
