CAL denies neglecting Tobago

(Trinidad Express) State-owned airline Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has fired back at Tobago House of Assembly (THA) chief secretary Orville London who has claimed that the airline is not doing enough for Tobago.
In a statement issued last Friday, and a subsequent advertorial in the weekend newspapers, CAL said the company has consistently stated its commitment to meeting the travel demands of locals and foreigners into and out of Tobago with the addition of flights and aircraft.
In addition to matching increased demand during peak periods and special events like the Great Race and the Tobago Jazz Experience, the airline says it has always invested in improving the air bridge between Trinidad and Tobago. There are 22 flights daily between the islands, including the recently launched “red-eye” late night service.
Last month, London had accused the airline of “not being supportive” of Tobago, and “not being cooperative as it should have been or could have been in assisting Tobago in being a more formidable presence in the international tourism market”.
CAL said it had added a direct flight between Tobago and New York, but it records a 44 per cent average load factor. Despite requests for additional flights, unless the load factor increases, it would be more cost efficient to maintain a large airport hub, with connections for passengers travelling on to other Caribbean Airlines destinations, the airline said.
The airline reported that passenger capacity on the air bridge increased by 6.25 per cent over a three-year period from 2008 to 2011, with a 9.6 per cent increase in passenger loads between 2010 and 2011.
“Caribbean Airlines is committed to providing the support, however, this must be done in a structured manner, incrementally and profitably in order to have a sustainable operation. We are committed to the process and wish to state that the THA continues to put the airline in a negative light over the years,” said the airline.