In a landmark celebration of local heritage and corporate growth, interCaribbean Airways has debuted its uniquely customized Embraer E170 jet, registered as VQ-TCI, at the airline’s primary base in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands. The aircraft bears the official name “Spirit of Turks and Caicos Islands” emblazoned across its nose, while the iconic coat of arms of the island nation adorns its tail, turning the commercial jet into a flying symbol of national identity for the carrier that calls the archipelago its founding home.
The special dedication ceremony drew key senior leadership from both the public and private sectors. Attendees included Turks and Caicos Islands Premier Charles Washington Misick, the full cabinet of the local government, interCaribbean Chairman Lyndon Gardiner, and Chief Executive Officer Trevor Sadler. In a traditional warm welcome for new aircraft, the Turks and Caicos Airport Authority (TCIAA) greeted the jet with a ceremonial water cannon salute as it taxied into position in front of the gathered crowd of government officials, tourism industry leaders, and aviation stakeholders.
For Chairman Gardiner, the rollout of the airline’s first ERJ170 marked a deeply meaningful milestone in the company’s ongoing fleet expansion. “We have named aircraft for individual destinations across our entire network for years, but this one carries the flag of the islands where interCaribbean was born and still calls home,” Gardiner explained during the ceremony. “Every time it takes off, it will carry the pride of these islands and our promise to connect the Turks and Caicos to the wider Caribbean through its culture, community and cuisine.”
The event doubled as a tribute to interCaribbean’s decades-long roots in the Turks and Caicos, highlighting the airline’s central role in linking the archipelago to neighboring Caribbean markets and communities. The newly unveiled jet will operate across interCaribbean’s full route network, serving as a roaming ambassador for the Turks and Caicos Islands and its residents. This aircraft is the latest addition to the airline’s collection of custom “Spirit of” branded jets, which already honor other Caribbean nations including Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Guyana, and Barbados, each representing the airline’s deep ties to communities across the region.
Founded and headquartered in the Turks and Caicos Islands, interCaribbean is a privately owned and operated regional carrier registered under the United Kingdom flag. Its modern mixed fleet includes Embraer E170 jets, 50-seat Embraer ERJ145 regional jets, 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft, and a range of turboprop planes: 68-seat ATR72s, 48-seat ATR42s, 30-seat EMB120s, and 19-seat Twin Otters. Today, the airline’s network spans 28 cities across 17 Caribbean nations, reaching from Georgetown, Guyana in the south to Barbados in the east, Havana, Cuba in the west, and Nassau, Bahamas in the north. Travelers can find more information or book flights directly through the airline’s official website, interCaribbean.com.