Caribbean Star poised for more growth, passenger loads increased

Caribbean Star Airlines, the Antigua-based regional carrier which has impacted positively on intra-Caribbean travel, continues to outdo itself in passenger loads. Information from the airline’s corporate headquarters revealed that during November it increased its passenger loads by 21 percent over the corresponding period in 2002. And according to forecasts from the office of the Chief Executive Officer, Paul Moreira, 2003 will see an overall growth of 35 percent over last year. The airline expects to carry at least 45,000 passengers mo-re than it did last year, which according to Moreira, puts ahead of his company’s budget by about 10,000 passengers. Using this record performance as a yardstick, Moreira said he was anticipating a growth rate of some 20 percent in 2004.

Trinidad’s contribution to Caribbean Star’s load factor up to November stood at 67,890 and this is anticipated to increase during December by about 8,000 bringing the total for the year to more than 76,000 passengers. In the case of Tobago the figures are somewhat less since the airline had reduced its airbridge flights, since when it was not being allowed to collect the $100 passenger subsidy. However the figures still reflect sizeable loads out of Tobago. Up until the end of November Caribbean Star services had uplifted 17,776 passengers and this number is expected to rise past the 20,000 mark by the end of the year. In 2001, the airline’s first complete year of operation, the total number of passengers carried was 169,677. Three years later as of November 30, 2003 the number of passengers carried on all its services is close to half a million, which reflects a 23 percent increase year over year.

This sterling performance comes in the wake of Caribbean Star being named the “Best Inter Island Carrier” during the recent World Travel Market in London and just  two weeks prior to that achievement the airline was adjudged the “Best Airline serving St Kitts/Nevis.” On hand to receive the London award was CEO Paul Moreira during a function aboard the Sunborn Yacht Hotel at the Royal Victoria Dick in Newham. Commenting on the airline’s recent string of successes, Moreira said that Caribbean Star Airlines has always aimed at providing the best service in the Caribbean. “We have succeeded in doing so and now we are being recognised for what we are doing,” added Moreira.