ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — INTERCARIBBEAN Airways is expected to enter the Trinidad and Tobago market later this year, following months of seeking regulatory approval.
The airline, which has been expanding across the region to help fill gaps in regional aviation, has long had its sights set on the twin-island nation. However, CEO Trevor Sadler said the regulatory process has taken time.
“We will come into Trinidad this year,” Sadler told SKNVibes Business during an interview at the 43rd Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Authority (CHTA) meeting in Antigua.
He explained that the airline delayed its entry as it continues working on several key developments, including the launch of additional aircraft. With new planes coming on stream, InterCaribbean also plans to introduce more routes as part of its rapid regional expansion.
At last year’s CHTA Marketplace in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Sadler revealed the airline had already applied for approval to service Trinidad and Tobago. Once operations begin, InterCaribbean is expected to compete with the nationally subsidized Caribbean Airlines.
That potential competition has led some to question whether the Trinidad and Tobago government was intentionally delaying the approval process. Asked if the airline was facing challenges from the government, Sadler responded:
“No,” he stated. “There's just a standard legal process that's adjudicated via the Civil Aviation Authority in each respective country. So Civil Aviation in Trinidad has no concerns in that regard.”
According to Sadler, InterCaribbean has already shared its operational plans “in principle,” which align with the country’s regulatory requirements.
