✈️ Cayman Airways discontinues Barbados route

Cayman Airways has announced the termination of its much-debated flight route to Barbados, which was subsidised by the Barbados Government through its tourism unit. The route was initially launched to boost inter-island travel and assist with airlift to Barbados. However, the flight failed to attract a significant number of passengers, with many flights reportedly departing Grand Cayman almost empty. The service will be reduced to once a week from 17 May before the final flights on 3 July. 🛫

Andrea Franklin, BTMI Chief Executive Officer, stated that a comprehensive review of airlift into Barbados had been conducted over the winter season. She said that the BTMI and Cayman Airways mutually agreed to terminate the arrangement after evaluating the route's performance. Despite the termination, Franklin mentioned the possibility of future partnerships and thanked Cayman Airways for its support. Meanwhile, Cayman Islands Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan expressed understanding for the need for flexibility in the ever-changing landscape of air travel. 🌐

While the flight loads were reportedly low from the beginning, Cayman Airways had assured that it would not suffer financially as the deal with Barbados guaranteed the airline a small profit regardless of the passenger numbers. However, there were concerns that the aircraft used for the two flights per week could have been used to fly to other, more relevant destinations for Cayman. Cayman Airways will continue to operate until 3 July to facilitate travel for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Passengers with bookings for travel after this date will be contacted for assistance with rerouting or refunds as needed. 🏏