Trinidad (POS) has seen not one, but two airlines launching service to Puerto Rico in mid-July.
Frontier Airlines launches service to Port of Spain, Trinidad
Frontier Airlines was the first to launch service on July 11, bringing in a full load of passengers from its San Juan (SJU) base on board one of its Airbus A320neos. The airline is now offering three times weekly service between the two islands, flying in and out Sundays, Thursdays and Fridays with a schedule change for the month of August. With the launch of these new flights, Trinidad is Frontier’s 12th Caribbean country to join its network.
By the time I arrived at the airport, most of the fanfare at the decorated check in counters was already over as most passenger were already checked in.
Credit: Bradley Wint/Gate CheckedI personally do not see this Puerto Rico being a popular destination for travelers from Trinidad and Tobago, but more as a gateway to other U.S. each coast cities. With very few options out of Trinidad, Frontier’s lower pricing model may open the doors to more travelers look for more budget friendly options.
For instance, a Sunday to Sunday September roundtrip flight from Trinidad to New York (JFK) costs US $451 on Frontier with a 3 1/2 hour layover in San Juan. JetBlue comes in slightly cheaper at $441, but Caribbean Airlines is much higher at $661. I used the Frontier “Business Bundle” option since many Caribbean travelers tend to travel bag-heavy.
Using Miami (MIA) as another example, travelers flying between the two cities could expect to pay US $450 in mid-September if they were to fly on Caribbean Airlines or American Airlines, but if they’re willing to accept a three hour layover in San Juan, they could pay $385 when booking with Frontier’s highest bundle tier. While everyone may not like Frontier’s low cost model, it does open up more traveling possibilities, especially as they connect to quite a number of cities on the east coast.
Caribbean Airlines launches flights to San Juan
Caribbean Airlines followed up, launching service on July 14 with one of its smaller ATR 72-600s. What’s most interesting is that this route was first advertised as as flying through Barbados, but was later changed to a non-stop flight to Puerto Rico. Caribbean Airlines also operates the route three times per week on Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays.
Garvin Medera, CEO of Caribbean Airlines, said: “We are excited to expand our route network to include San Juan, Puerto Rico. This new route is a significant step in our growth strategy and underscores our commitment to enhancing regional connectivity. Caribbean Airlines plays a vital role in connecting the Caribbean, and by the end of this year, we will link the Spanish, French, Dutch and English-speaking Caribbean with each other, the North American Diaspora, and business and leisure travelers, as we Welcome them Home, to explore our beautiful region.”
It will be interesting to see how this route will fare in the long term, but it could also tie in to their application to fly to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Featured image: Keegan Maraj | All Rights Reserved
