In a significant move to accommodate the influx of visitors for the Tobago carnival festivities, Caribbean Airlines Ltd (CAL) has confirmed the addition of 3,200 seats to the airbridge. This supplement to the existing 18,792 seats, available from October 22-29, includes the deployment of an additional Boeing 737 aircraft. The initiative aims to alleviate travel congestion and ensure smoother journeys for masqueraders, artists, and the general public attending the event.
Chief Secretary Farley Augustine expressed his relief during a media briefing at the Shaw Park Complex on October 21, acknowledging the efforts of Minister Davendranath Tancoo and the CAL board. Augustine highlighted that the additional seats were secured after persistent advocacy, addressing earlier complaints from stakeholders about flight shortages. Bandleaders, who had faced challenges in securing flights for their masqueraders, have now been able to finalize their bookings.
Augustine emphasized the need for proactive planning by CAL for future high-traffic events, urging the airline to prepare well in advance for peak seasons such as Easter, Tobago carnival, and the summer months. He also credited Tobago West MP Joel Sampson, Tobago East MP David Thomas, and Secretary for Culture and Antiquities Zorisha Hackett for their roles in this development. The Office of the Chief Secretary further acknowledged Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Minister Tancoo, and Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation Eli Zakour for their contributions.
This announcement follows earlier concerns raised by TOCO president Dexter Sandy, who had appealed for additional transportation options to ensure the success of the carnival. With the airbridge now bolstered, the Tobago carnival, scheduled from October 24-26, is set to welcome a larger number of participants and visitors, marking a tangible improvement in the island’s airlift capacity during one of its most celebrated cultural events.