Max Kingsley-Jones/LONDON
Fast-growing east Caribbean airline Air Caribbean is finalising a deal for its first widebodied aircraft as it prepares to begin long-haul services to North America and the UK.
Based in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, the private airline is negotiating to acquire three secondhand Boeing 767-200ERs. "We are on track to launch services to New York and Toronto early in the fourth quarter and London Gatwick by the end of the year," says executive chairman Leslie Lucky-Samaroo. "The first 767 will be delivered in the fourth quarter, followed by two more in 2000."
With its expansion funded by financial institutions and shareholders, the airline is upgrading to an all-jet fleet. Operations began in 1993 with NAMC YS-11 turboprops. It operates six of these. The airline introduced its first Boeing 737-200Adv in March 1998 and has three in service as it prepares to expand its "no frills" flights to Venezuela and North America.
Air Caribbean's efforts to expand its network have been helped by the Trinidad and Tobago Government designating it as the country's second national carrier, after BWIA International Airways. "The Government has adopted an open skies strategy and the designation gives us access to all the bilaterals," says Lucky-Samaroo. "We will take our fourth 737-200Adv in September, by which time I hope we will have launched our Miami and Caracas services."
The Miami launch has been delayed because BWIA blocked its licence application with an objection to the US Department of Transport, but Lucky-Samaroo hopes this will be resolved. The airline is targeting Orlando as its second Florida destination next year.
Air Caribbean will take delivery of a fifth 737-200 in November, allowing it to phase out its YS-11s by the end of the year.
Meanwhile, BWIA has delayed its first public offering until the fourth quarter, but is moving forward with plans to cement an alliance with a US major. "It is between United, Delta and Continental, and should be finalised in July," says the airline's chief executive Conrad Aleong.
He says the carrier's planned rebranding, which could see its name change to West Indian, is also planned for the fourth quarter.
Source: Flight International
