Trinidad’s Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour announced Wednesday during a parliamentary address that state-owned Caribbean Airlines will implement sweeping service adjustments starting June 1, cutting a series of money-losing regional routes that have drained more than $18 million from the carrier’s balance sheet amid broader efforts to restore long-term financial stability.
The route withdrawals will fully exit three unprofitable markets: Dominica, where operations have accumulated $730,000 in losses through April 2026; St. Kitts, which has posted $1.65 million in losses; and the non-stop route connecting Guyana and Suriname, which has lost $1.24 million to date. Two additional regional routes to Martinique and Guadeloupe will see their flight frequencies slashed from four weekly rotations to just two, as the Martinique route has lost $1.23 million and Guadeloupe has recorded $1.86 million in losses, Zakour confirmed.
These planned cuts are not the first round of restructuring for the airline, joining two previously discontinued high-loss routes: the Jamaica-Fort Lauderdale route, which ended service in November 2025 after amassing $7.2 million in losses, and the Trinidad-Puerto Rico route, which was shut down earlier this year after accumulating $4.92 million in losses through April 2026. Combined, the discontinued and adjusted routes have racked up a total of $18.84 million in cumulative losses for the carrier, prompting the urgent restructuring push.
In a joint statement from the minister and a subsequent official press release from Caribbean Airlines, the airline emphasized that it is prioritizing support for passengers affected by the service changes. Affected customers will be offered re-accommodation on other available Caribbean Airlines services where possible, and the carrier will coordinate with partner regional carriers to find alternate travel arrangements when no in-network options exist. Passengers holding unused tickets will also be eligible for full refunds for the unused portion of their fares, or full travel credit for future bookings, subject to original fare conditions.
Looking ahead, Caribbean Airlines is currently working to finalize a new codeshare partnership with another regional carrier. Once approved and implemented, the agreement will expand travel options for customers by granting access to a broader regional network, with coordinated scheduling, seamless connecting itineraries, and integrated ticketing that simplifies the travel experience. The carrier reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining reliable regional connectivity, noting that the restructuring is designed to build a “sustainable and commercially responsible network” that prioritizes operational consistency, improved customer experience, and long-term financial health.