A public debate over the future of the Trinidad-Tobago domestic airbridge has prompted top government officials to clear up widespread misinformation, confirming that existing subsidized passenger fares will remain untouched, while a proposal for new premium unsubsidized flights remains in the early feasibility stage.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar stepped forward to address growing public anxiety over the weekend, emphasizing in an interview with local outlet the Express on that there has never been any official consideration of scrapping the longstanding subsidy program that keeps round-trip airfares fixed at $400 for travel between the two main islands. She stressed that the subsidized service is an essential lifeline for Tobago residents, who regularly need to travel to Trinidad to access government services, conduct private business, and handle critical matters that are unavailable on their home island.
The confusion erupted after Trade, Investment and Tourism Minister Satyakama Maharaj told the Express Thursday that the government was exploring a targeted adjustment to the airbridge service to address persistent overcrowding and last-minute booking shortages. Maharaj’s proposal calls for adding two daily unsubsidized flights during peak travel periods, which would carry a price point of roughly $1000 round-trip. These premium flights would primarily serve travelers booking short-notice trips and tourists, who frequently struggle to secure seats on the heavily booked subsidized service. Maharaj himself noted that the persistent shortage is a well-known issue, even affecting government officials: he recalled a recent experience where securing a last-minute seat to Tobago was harder than booking a flight to Miami. Crucially, Maharaj explicitly stated in his initial comments that the existing subsidized service would remain in place, with no plans to eliminate the $400 fare.
Persad-Bissessar clarified that Maharaj never proposed cutting the subsidy, pushing back against erroneous public interpretations that suggested the government was planning to eliminate the popular program. She confirmed that only the proposal for additional unsubsidized peak flights is under active review, with government analysts currently conducting work to assess whether the plan is logistically and financially feasible. The Prime Minister added that her administration remains fully committed to upgrading and maintaining the inter-island domestic transport network, and that she will continue collaborative discussions with Tobago Chief Secretary Farley Augustine and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) to advance policies that benefit Tobago’s residents. Currently, all airbridge services are operated by state-owned national carrier Caribbean Airlines.
Energy Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal further clarified the government’s position in an interview with TTT News, pushing back against an earlier misleading media headline that incorrectly claimed the government had already approved the $1000 unsubsidized fares. Moonilal stated categorically that the Cabinet of Trinidad and Tobago has not discussed, approved, or implemented any such decision, and that the reported policy change does not reflect official government position. While he acknowledged that the proposal reflects the working idea put forward by the relevant cabinet minister, it has not advanced to formal cabinet consideration, and the misleading headline should be completely discounted by the public. Moonilal noted that the inaccurate reporting was deeply concerning, and that officials wanted to erase the false claim from public discourse immediately, reaffirming that no policy change has been authorized by Prime Minister Persad-Bissessar’s cabinet.
Looking ahead, the Prime Minister is set to address a range of national policy issues during the UNC Congress and Report to the Nation event, scheduled to take place today at the Couva South Hall car park along Couva Main Road.