The economic impact of Sunday’s massive flight cancellations on Caribbean Airlines remains unknown. However, the Chairman of the Tobago Division from the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Curtis Williams says the impact is far-reaching. The issue spans decades. Every July/August vacation, travelling on the airbridge becomes exceptionally challenging. While for Trinidadians, the airbridge signifies a weekend in paradise, for Tobagonians, it is a necessity. Consequently, inefficiencies in the air bridge lead to lost productivity and financial resources.
Sleeping at the Piarco International Airport is rapidly becoming a part of the Tobago experience. Williams has noted that Caribbean Airlines lacks empathy for Tobagonians. Before COVID-19, CAL scheduled 24 flights daily. Post-pandemic, only 12 flights are scheduled.
However, CAL is owned by the government of Trinidad and Tobago with the Minister of Finance, Colm Imbert directly responsible for the airline. Imbert’s only response to CAL’s financial problems was to increase the airfare in the January of this year from $300 to $400 return. He is yet to introduce or authorise the financing of any plans to improve efficiency or publicly acknowledge the need for Tobagonians to have a highly functional airbridge.
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