Brent Pinheiro
brent.pinheiro@guardian.co.tt
British Airways has announced plans to operate non-stop flights to Trinidad next year. According to a statement from the airline, flights will operate on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from London Gatwick (LGW) to Port of Spain (POS). The change is effective 26 March 2023. The last time Port of Spain was linked directly to London was back in 2016 when Caribbean Airlines offered nonstop flights to Gatwick.
This latest announcement represents a reduction in service to Trinidad as the airline currently flies to POS 5 times weekly via St. Lucia. Flights to and from Tobago now operate on Tuesdays and Fridays also via St Lucia.
Contacted on the decision, Minister of Tourism and Culture Randall Mitchell, who is abroad on official business, said the move could boost T&T’s marketing efforts.
“This new direct route via British Airways allows for Destination Trinidad and Tobago to now have greater direct connectivity to the UK’s inbound market. Access through London Gatwick also now opens up the destination to the South London diaspora market,” Mitchell said.
“With the estimated size of BA aircraft servicing this route having an average capacity of approximately 312 (dependant on the airline’s configuration), Trinidad can now see its inbound market increase by at least 1,000 passengers weekly from this region alone.
“This new service, coupled with the success of the KLM route, will be a game changer in terms of access into both Trinidad and Tobago. It also shows the level of confidence that British Airways has in the Port-of- Spain route.”
Mitchell said the ministry's data shows British Airways brings an average of 217 passengers every week to Trinidad.
“Based on the capacity of the aircraft, that is a load factor of almost 70 per cent and a higher average base fare than the route into St. Lucia. Given these facts, we see this as an advantage and gives us more latitude to directly target those markets who can now access our island and what we have to offer that much easier.”
Also announced today was the British carrier’s intention to serve two new routes - Oranjestad, Aruba (AUA) and Georgetown, Guyana (GEO). Flights from Oranjestad, Aruba to London will operate twice weekly from 26 March 2023, via Antigua. Flights from Georgetown, Guyana to London operate twice weekly, via St Lucia, from 27 March 2023. Previously customers flying into Guyana were routed through the USA via BA’s partner airline American Airlines.
Flights are operated using the airline’s Boeing 777-200 aircraft. British Airways now serves 17 Caribbean destinations.