In a move that promises to transform travel between the Caribbean and Europe, Caribbean Airlines and Air Caraibes have launched a reciprocal codeshare agreement this month. This partnership allows passengers to book seamless journeys on a single ticket, combining the strengths of both airlines to connect the English-speaking Caribbean with France and beyond.
This development comes as Air Caraibes is looking to expand its Caribbean network to be more competitive with legacy carriers such as British Airways and Air France that dominate transatlantic traffic to the region. In Caribbean Airways, it has found a local partner that has been building out its fleet and expanding aggressively, allowing it to effectively create a new gateway from the southern Caribbean to its base at Paris Orly Airport.
A Mutually Beneficial Codeshare
Air Caraibes is a French West Indian airline that is owned by Groupe Dubreuil, which also owns French Bee. Air Caraibes’ main base of operations at Pointe-à-Pitre Le Raizet in Guadeloupe, with a hub at Fort-de-France in Martinique. Its focus is on transatlantic routes, using its small fleet of A330s and A350s to connect these, as well as other Caribbean destinations, to Paris.
The carrier does have four ATR 72 aircraft to provide inter-island connectivity, but this is very limited. This is where Caribbean Airlines comes in. The flag carrier of Trinidad and Tobago has excellent connectivity across the region, flying to 28 destinations in 11 different countries. But crucially, it has no transatlantic routes, so the codeshare is of great benefit to it as well.
Caribbean Airlines CEO, Garvin Medera, said that the codeshare represents “an exciting step forward in connecting our Caribbean home with the world and offering our passengers unprecedented access to Europe.” Similarly, Marc Rochet, President of Air Caraibes, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration and highlighted the mutual advantages:
“Partnering with Caribbean Airlines allows us to extend our reach into the vibrant southern Caribbean markets. This agreement not only expands our network but also fosters stronger ties between French and English-speaking communities, driving tourism and economic growth for all involved.”
The Details Of The Codeshare
The codeshare partnership between Caribbean Airlines and Air Caraibes is reciprocal, meaning both airlines can sell seats on each other’s flights under their own codes. The setup is designed to facilitate connections through the French Caribbean hubs of Fort-de-France in Guadeloupe and Pointe-à-Pitre in Martinique. Passengers can now book a single ticket for journeys that combine regional flights operated by Caribbean Airlines with transatlantic legs by Air Caraïbes, and vice versa.
The specific routes covered under the agreement include:
The decision to codeshare stems from strategic goals to expand market reach without the high costs of launching new routes or acquiring additional aircraft. For Caribbean Airlines, the partnership provides access to Europe, a lucrative market for tourism and diaspora travel, without operating long-haul flights itself. The airline has been actively expanding its regional footprint, including new services to Martinique and Guadeloupe in recent years, making this a natural extension.
Air Caraïbes, on the other hand, gains entry to the southern English-speaking Caribbean, areas previously underserved by its network. By leveraging Caribbean Airlines’ routes, it can feed more passengers into its transatlantic flights to Paris, increasing load factors and revenue. For two smaller carriers competing against much larger legacy operators, codeshares like this allow them to grow collaboratively, sharing risks and rewards through revenue-sharing models.
Carribean Airlines’ Rapid Growth
A key driver that has facilitated this partnership has been the strong growth of Caribbean Airlines in recent years. The carrier was founded in Trinidad and Tobago in 2006, and went on to acquire Air Jamaica in 2011. It positions itself as the “authentic Caribbean airline,” and now also serves as the national carrier for Guyana and Jamaica.
Caribbean Airways started with a modest fleet of five Boeing 737-800 aircraft and 128 weekly departures to 10 destinations, but has expanded significantly over the years. Most recently it has been building out its US route network, and it now serves the following cities:
New York JFK: From Georgetown, Kingston, Port of Spain, Saint Vincent, and Tobago.
Fort Lauderdale: From Kingston, Montego Bay, and Port of Spain.
Miami: From Port of Spain.
Orlando: From Port of Spain.