Out with the old
Caribbean Airlines set to wing out Monday
By Nicosia Smith
Stabroek News
December 30, 2006
In a few days BWIA will be a name for the history books; Caribbean Airlines Inc, its replacement, takes to the sky on Monday.
BWIA Country Manager Carlton De Four in an interview last week reflected briefly on his experience at the helm and explained what customers can expect under Caribbean Airlines.
De Four, who took up his post here in October 2002, said it was truly a learning experience that was challenging and gratifying.
The challenges included being in a new country and adapting to a new business environment, although he admitted that the employees were highly trained. Leading and motivating a group of people who were very passionate about their job, he said, was in itself a challenge. And he added that his travel commitments as country manager posed a physical challenge.
During his tenure the airline industry was still grappling with the changes brought on by the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States. And in 2004, the delayed and lost baggage debacle at several locations including Guyana was also particularly difficult, De Four said.
Changes
The manager said there would be few changes in the operating strategy, but overall Caribbean Airlines would be efficient and more customer friendly. He said it was difficult to say how many staff would be employed by Caribbean Airlines, but noted that under his tenure the highest number of staff under BWIA here was around 65 or 70.
Already, the ramp services have been contracted out and there has been a reduction in the check-in staff, since most flights are in the morning hours, limiting the need for after-lunch staff. Come January, there will be three Caribbean Airlines night departures per week.
Early morning flights would be more convenient. For example one that would leave at 9.20 am would more adequately facilitate travellers from outlying areas like Berbice.
Caribbean Airlines will fly to New York, Toronto, Miami, Kingston, Antigua and Barbuda (flights to Antigua), St Maarten, Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago. There might be a flight to Tobago but the arrangements for this are still being worked out.
Unlike BWIA, Caribbean Airlines will not fly to Washington DC in the US or Manchester in the UK flights, since these were not profitable, De Four said. And while there will be a London flight until March 28, after March Caribbean Airlines and British Airways will have a code-sharing arrangement flights to London. Passengers will connect from Piarco Airport in Trinidad to Gatwick Airport in London four times per week and from Grantley Adams in Barbados to Heathrow Airport in London.
Customers travelling to New York will no longer have to disembark at Trinidad and Tobago, however Toronto-bound passengers will have to make a gate change. It is expected that gate transfers will be less of a hassle under Caribbean Airlines.
The whole idea behind the new airline, De Four said, was the internal restructuring of BWIA and there will be uniform changes, details of which will be released during the synchronized launching of the new airlines at the various locations. There may also be colour changes to the BWIA buildings in Trinidad and Barbados. The local office is not expected to get a paint job as it is rented but customers should see changes in name tags and logos.