Top things to know
- Caribbean Airlines is adding 38 return flights between Trinidad and Tobago.
- The additional flights will provide 2,584 extra seats for the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation holiday and Easter period.
- The expanded service will run from March 27 to April 12, 2026, using ATR 72-600 aircraft.
- Reginald MacLean of the Tobago Tourism and Hotel Association criticized the announcement as being too late, suggesting travelers may have already made other arrangements.
Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has announced a significant increase in its inter-island service between Trinidad and Tobago, adding 38 return flights to accommodate the anticipated surge in travel demand during the Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation holiday and the Easter peak period. These additional services, scheduled to operate between March 27 and April 12, 2026, will introduce an extra 2,584 seats to the route.
The airline's decision aims to facilitate smoother travel for passengers during this busy time, utilizing its ATR 72-600 aircraft for the expanded schedule. This move underscores CAL's commitment to ensuring reliable connectivity between the two islands, particularly during periods of heightened public holidays and school breaks.
However, the announcement has drawn criticism from some quarters regarding its timing. Reginald MacLean, Head of the Tobago Tourism and Hotel Association, expressed concerns that the airline's decision might be too late. MacLean suggested that many potential travelers may have already finalized alternative travel plans due to the previous lack of available seats or uncertainty surrounding additional flights. This highlights a potential disconnect between the airline's operational planning and the expectations of key tourism stakeholders on Tobago.
Despite the criticism, the added capacity is expected to alleviate some of the pressure on the inter-island airbridge, which frequently experiences high demand during holiday periods. The Spiritual Shouter Baptist Liberation Day, observed annually, and the subsequent Easter holidays traditionally see a substantial movement of people between Trinidad and Tobago for family visits, leisure, and religious observances. The provision of these extra flights is a direct response to this predictable increase in passenger traffic.
CAL's strategy to inject more seats into the market during these critical weeks aims to enhance accessibility and convenience for travelers. While the airline emphasizes its dedication to serving the inter-island route effectively, the feedback from the Tobago Tourism and Hotel Association suggests that proactive communication and earlier announcements could further optimize the benefits of such initiatives for the tourism sector and the traveling public.