Caribbean Airlines has entered into an agreement with Nordic Aviation Capital (NAC) to lease three ATR 72-600 aircraft. The additional leases will be used to help build and expand its presence out its two prop bases in Trinidad and Barbados, and in effect, increase domestic airlift between Trinidad and Tobago.
The three leased aircraft first entered service for Myanmar-based Air KBZ between May and June 2019, before being returned to NAC in September 2022. They are now just a few months shy of four years old, and are rumored to join Caribbean’s fleet in May 2023.
The new additions will increase Caribbean Airlines’ ATR fleet to 10 aircraft, along with its nine Boeing 737 MAX 8s which they use for longer range operations.
After re-emerging from the pandemic, the airline has put increased focus on regional operations, expanding its route network to add destinations such as Dominica, and Ogle in Guyana, as well as increase its presence out of Barbados.
It seems that Caribbean wants to take over as many routes previously served by LIAT, which has seen its fleet reduced to just three aircraft. There have even been rumors of the airline possibly expanding further west, but we will leave it at that until there is more concrete information to work with.
[Featured Photo: Bradley Wint/Gate Checked]
