InterCaribbean eyes T&T market, files application with Civil Aviation
Trinidad and Tobago could have a new player in its airspace as interCaribbean Airways has filed an application with the twin island nation’s Civil Aviation Authority to operate a scheduled service.
Trevor Sadler, CEO of interCaribbean Airways, provided the update when asked about the airline’s long rumored plans of entering T&T on May 23 during a media conference at the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica.
When asked about the date that the application was filed, Sadler said it was not information he had at his disposal.
If interCaribbean Airways enters the T&T market it will face stiff competition from the country’s national carrier Caribbean Airlines (CAL) which is owned by both the Trinidad and Tobago and Jamaican governments.
CAL is currently expanding its route network that includes destinations such as New York City, Toronto, Cuba, The Bahamas, Barbados, Caracas, Suriname and Guyana.
The airline recently added a route that takes travelers from Trinidad to Puerto Rico, with a stop in Barbados.
CAL plans to expand its fleet by incorporating additional Boeing 737 Max 8s and ATR 72-600s, while also introducing Embraer E175s to serve both new and existing routes across the Caribbean and Latin American regions.
InterCaribbean has received criticism in recent months for its service, which is faced with frequent delays and ground staff that customers say are uncaring and unprofessional.
Sadler was questioned about the airline’s readiness to accommodate a new route, considering its fleet of 17 aircraft and the reported challenges experienced on its current routes, extending from Turks and Caicos to Guyana.
He said interCaribbean has been working to address the shortfalls and make their product top class.
He outlined what the airline did last December to alleviate the subpar service that the company and customers faced when dealing with external ground staff in Barbados.
“We spent $750,000 on equipment that we brought in. We hired 53 people to come in and join us in Barbados and begin the journey where we owned the relationship as opposed to simply allowing a handling company who has a varying degree of interest in our interest,” he said.
“We spent a lot of time training people. We used the facilities that the University of the West Indies to do this. We brought in all of our most knowledgeable people to make sure that the folks we put in front of the customer are the folks that actually make it through the training.”
He added: “So we took on board folks from Barbados who wanted to work, who wanted to make a difference, and constantly they do. So I would admit we had a problem last year, but that’s behind us.”
Sadler said the airline is looking to acquire more planes and staff to meet the demands of customers and retire aged aircraft which can affect to the service that interCaribbean provides.
Sadler noted challenges do occur in the airline industry and companies may not have a plane or additional crew at a particular destination to prevent service disruptions or delays to passengers.
