Caribbean Airlines (BW, Port of Spain) (CAL) is acquiring four more ATR72-600s, expected to be delivered in April and May 2023, and is seeking greater access to the US market under the Open Skies agreement between Trinidad & Tobago and the United States.

This is revealed in an April 17 application by the Caribbean airline to the US Department of Transport (DOT) for full Open Skies operations as permitted under the existing bilateral air service agreement between the countries.

The flag carrier - owned 88% by Trinidad and Tobago and 12% by Jamaica - said under the proposed Open Skies blanket authority, it will operate the same US routes as it currently does under its long-standing exemption authority granted in 2007. These include scheduled services to New York JFK, Miami International, Orlando International and Fort Lauderdale International. It also has exemption authority to serve Georgetown Cheddi Jagan, Guyana, as an intermediate point between Trinidad & Tobago and the US. The airline also holds limited Seventh Freedom authority to operate schedules from points behind Jamaica, via Jamaica and intermediate points, to a point/s in the US and beyond, and between Grenada and New York.

Formally, CAL has applied to operate the following under the Open Skies agreement:

  • scheduled foreign and charter air transportation of persons, property and mail from points behind Trinidad and Tobago via Trinidad and Tobago and intermediate points to any point/s in the US and beyond;
  • all-cargo services from and between the same points; and
  • any other authority permitted under Part 212 of the DOT's rules.

According to the application, CAL is currently acquiring additional aircraft, specifically four ATR72-600 airframes, expected to be delivered in April and May 2023," the application states. Details of the aircraft were not disclosed.

The airline already operates seven 68-72-seater ATR72-600s and nine B737-8 MAX, according to the ch-aviation fleets module. Its application also lists eight B737-800s, which have been redelivered to lessors.

ch-aviation has reached out to the airline for comment.