On Saturday, Caribbean Airlines, a leading carrier for flights to and from Trinidad and Tobago, announced the resumption of flights to Simon Bolivar International Airport in Caracas, Venezuela, from Piarco International Airport in Port-of-Spain.
The new route, which will be operated using new ATR 72 aircraft delivered to Caribbean Airlines this year, will operate on Saturdays, with return flights operating the same day.
In a statement at an event commemorating the launch of the event, Caribbean Airlines’ CEO Garvin Medera said:
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Clearly, the carrier hopes that the commencement of more new routes between Latin America and the Eastern Caribbean will follow the reinstatement of the Caracas route.
A special welcome in Venezuela
Upon arriving in Caracas, the ATR 72’s pilots presented Álvaro Enrique Sánchez Cordero, Venezuelan Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, with a special token of appreciation. In response, Sanches Cordero had the following words to share:
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Not only does the ambassador look forward to Caribbean Airlines’ new regular flights between Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, he also hopes that the flights will help improve relations between the two nations.
Venezuelan tourists have in the past overwhelmingly visited destinations in Spanish-speaking nations. Now, with a new direct flight from their capital, Trinidad and Tobago may emerge as an appealing option.
An expanding network
The carrier’s expansion to Caracas comes on the heels of many recent route launches by the carrier. In March, the carrier recently launched flights between Dominica and Trinidad and Tobago with the same new aircraft.
The airline, whose business model primarily relies upon tourism to the Caribbean Islands, has struggled with the post-pandemic drop in international tourism demand, which continues to affect the region. Operating only short-haul 737 MAX aircraft in addition to ATR 72s, the airline’s business is dominated by short-range leisure travel.
Hopefully, the re-establishment of a connection between Port-of-Spain and Caracas will mark a new dawn in Caribbean Airlines’ post-pandemic recovery.
