The Trinidad and Tobago-based airline debuted in Georgetown (GEO), Guyana, with the Boeing 737-8 aircraft on flight BW 526, between Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, with service to New York (JFK), United States. It is also the first time the Caribbean carrier has operated the model in South America.
“Caribbean Airlines and Guyana continue to enjoy a productive and long-standing relationship. And since our inception in 2007 we have provided consistent service to Guyana, including daily non-stop flights between New York and Guyana with seamless connections throughout our network,” said Caribbean Airlines CEO Garvin Medera as he commemorated the service.
“Caribbean Airlines has the most extensive route system of any carrier in the region and Guyana remains one of our most important destinations,” continued Medera.
Currently, the company operates in Guyana from Cheddi Jaggan International Airport (GEO) to Port of Spain (POS), Toronto (YYZ), and New York (JFK) on Boeing 737-800, and will soon resume service to Miami. From Ogle (OGL), located in the Georgetown metropolitan area, it has flights to Port of Spain (POS) and Barbados (BGI) on ATR 72-600s.
The introduction of the Boeing 737 MAX at Caribbean Airlines
The company introduced its first Boeing 737-8 to its fleet last November 2021, registration 9Y-CAL, with a second (9Y-GUY) arriving a few days later. Two additional aircraft (9Y-JAM and 9Y-ANT) were recently delivered. It plans to receive another four MAX aircraft in 2022 (9Y-BAH, 9Y-SUR, 9Y-BAR, and 9Y-GRN). It is unclear whether it will receive the twelve aircraft ordered after several uncertainties due to the current economic crisis.
The aircraft has a configuration of 16 seats in business class, 36 in Caribbean Plus (Premium Economy), and 108 in economy class.
“This introduction of the 737-8 to our aircraft fleet restores and elevates our customers’ experience. It’s the culmination of extensive research and data-driven innovation to upgrade the Caribbean Airlines brand,” said Garvin Medera.
The flight was on January 14, between Piarco International Airport (POS) in Trinidad and Tobago and Norman Manley International Airport (KIN) in Jamaica.
It’s official! Welcome Boeing 737-8 ✈️🎉#REcalibrated #iflycaribbean pic.twitter.com/UmJxr3hoEj
— Caribbean Airlines (@iflycaribbean) January 14, 2022
REset Expectations
It launched a revamped service offering, called “REset Expectations,” to reinforce the authenticity of the Caribbean brand. Customers have a suite of customizable pre-flight and onboard services available to them, including:
- Meal reservations: Caribbean food (bara and snacks), baked and fish, and other delicacies that can be booked up to 36 hours prior to the flight departure.
- Caribbean Layaway: an interest-free installment plan that allows customers traveling within a period of two to twelve months the opportunity to pay for flights on a staggered basis.
- Your Space: economy class passengers have the option to pay for the seat next to them, or the entire row, from as little as USD 20, depending on the route.
Caribbean’s Boeing 737 MAX connections
The airline is considered a flag carrier in three countries (Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago). The Boeing 737 MAXs would replace its eight Boeing 737-800s that are about 19.6 years old on average, according to Ch-aviation.
Caribbean Airlines plans to operate them from Port of Spain (POS) to Toronto (YYZ) in Canada; Miami (MIA), Orlando (MCO), and Fort Lauderdale (FLL) in the United States. It also operates some weekly services to the Caribbean such as St. Vincent (SVD), St. Maarten (SXM), Havana (HAV), and others.
The Boeing 737 MAX route network it plans to use.
From Georgetown (GEO), Guyana, it operates flights to New York (JFK) and Toronto (YYZ) as well as to Kingston (KIN), Jamaica, to the same two North American cities. It also operates flights to St. Maarten (SXM), Antigua and Barbuda (ANU), Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Nassau (NAS) in the Bahamas, and Bridgetown (BGI) in Barbados.
The Boeing 737 MAX will undoubtedly see a lot of movement in the region, with Cayman Airways and, soon, Arajet being the only three Caribbean-based carriers with the model.
Other airlines operating in the Caribbean are Copa Airlines, American Airlines, United Airlines, Air Canada, Westjet, and Smartwings.
