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Caribbean Sun Airlines Shutdown

Written by Chris in Caribbean News No Comments →

Caribbean Sun Airlines announces shutdown

All Caribbean Sun passengers holding confirmed tickets for travel between San Juan and Santo Domingo after January 16, 2007, or tickets for travel to/from all other Caribbean Sun gateways after January 31, 2007 will be re-accommodated on alternate service operated by Cape Air, Caribbean Airlines (formerly BWIA) or LIAT. The Airline announced on Tuesday a two-phase shutdown of all flight operations.

1. Termination of all Caribbean Sun flights between San Juan and Santo Domingo
2. Termination of all remaining Caribbean Sun flight operations and the closure of the airline’s operational hub at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Caribbean Sun’s final day of flight operations is January 31, 2007

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Caribbean Airlines Replaces BWIA,

Written by Chris in Caribbean News No Comments →

Caribbean Airlines, a new national carrier of Trinidad and Tobago has replaced BWIA. Which has been operating as Trinidad and Tobago National Air Carrier for 66 years.The government, which held more than 97 percent of BWIA’s shares, approved a capital injection of $250m for the creation of the new carrier.Caribbean Airlines will provide air transport within the Caribbean and to major international cities but on fewer routes than BWIA.

“New Era”

It will employ 500 to 700 people. At its closure, BWIA employed about 1,800 people.

Several attempts to turnaround the airline’s fortunes failed, including the severing 600 workers in 2003.

Chief Executive Officer, Peter Davies, said he believed that Caribbean Airlines marked the start of a “new and dynamic era in Caribbean aviation.”

He said: “Whatever its ups and downs, its successes and failings, BWIA has generated loyalty, affection and pride … and a wide Caribbean public understands BWIA as an essential part of the Caribbean landscape.”

Caribbean Airlines Takes To The Skies [BCC Caribbean.com]

BWIA Employees Protest Over Stalled Wage Negotiations

Written by Chris in Caribbean News No Comments →

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad: Operations at Trinidad and Tobago’s national airline, BWIA, were almost brought to a halt on Saturday with a large number of employees calling in sick.

The action is said to be part of a protest strategy aimed at forcing the airline’s management to settle outstanding wage negotiations. Hundreds of workers are now threatening to step up their action saying they are not prepared to wait any longer for an agreed compensation package. Over the weekend, officials of BWIA had to hire Service Air to deal with transportation of passengers, which union officials claimed was illegal and contrary to the collective bargaining process. When contacted, officials of the union that represents over five hundred employees denied instructing its membership to engage in a protest. They said, however, they were not ruling out massive industrial action if matters relating to worker compensation are not settled soon.