Caribbean Airlines to discontinue four Caribbean routes starting January 2026

Caribbean Airlines Ltd has cancelled four regional flights and will overhaul its Barbados hub starting early 2026, as the carrier doubles down on trimming underperforming routes and improving network efficiency.

- Advertisement -

In a statement issued December 2, the airline said that from January 10, 2026, it will discontinue service to Tortola in the British Virgin Islands and San Juan, Puerto Rico after “comprehensive evaluations of route performance and resource deployment”.

The flights being discontinued include BW 292 (Trinidad–Barbados–Tortola–Puerto Rico), BW 293 (Puerto Rico–Tortola–Barbados–Trinidad), BW 296 (Trinidad–Dominica–Puerto Rico), and BW 297 (Puerto Rico–Dominica–Trinidad). Another pair, BW 296 and BW 297, also previously operated through Dominica on the Trinidad–Dominica–Puerto Rico leg.

Last month, following a separate performance review, CAL confirmed the end of its Fort Lauderdale–Montego Bay and Fort Lauderdale–Kingston services after poor passenger demand. That cut followed an earlier November announcement that the Jamaica–Florida route would be suspended under the airline’s ongoing optimisation programme.

Customers holding confirmed reservations to or from Tortola or Puerto Rico for travel after January 10, 2026 are being contacted directly and will receive full refunds where applicable. CAL said fully paid bookings made directly with the airline will be automatically refunded via Caribbean Airlines, while bookings made through travel agents or third-party websites will be processed by the customer’s booking provider.

From February 2026, CAL will also restructure its Barbados hub. Aircraft and crew currently based there will be repositioned to operate out of Trinidad, while continuing to serve flights to, from, and beyond Barbados. The airline has not announced any hub-based layoffs, but confirmed the staffing and aircraft transition is tied directly to operational streamlining.

Acting CAL CEO Nirmala Ramai framed the changes as necessary for long-term competitiveness and reliability.

“These changes form a critical part of our plan to deliver reliable service while managing our resources responsibly. Our customers remain our priority, and these adjustments ensure we continue to provide strong regional connectivity, supported by a sustainable and competitive operational model,” Ramai said.

In an earlier media briefing, CAL chairman Reyna Kowlessar said the airline was executing a “major overhaul to improve efficiency”, adding that the commercial viability of routes was under intense scrutiny.

Ramai formally assumed the CEO role on October 13, following CAL’s announcement that the board and senior leadership were advancing five priority initiatives:

• Supporting employees and stakeholders through open communication and structured internal care

• Modernising operations to improve efficiency

• Upgrading customer experience and service delivery

• Building a sustainable and financially responsible growth plan

• Rolling out full departmental audits to tighten governance, safety and accountability

The company also reiterated its commitment to internal talent development, saying it will prioritise promotion from within before recruiting externally where possible, a move intended to protect workforce morale and provide long-term career pathways for employees.