Air Caribbean

Air Caribbean was an airline that served from Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport, then "Isla Verde International Airport", in San Juan.

History

The 1970s and 1980s were decades when several Puerto Rican airlines existed and competed against each other, including Prinair, Vieques Air Link and Dorado Wings. Believing a share of the market profits could be gained, Air Caribbean was created in 1975.

There was one thread in common between Puerto Rican airlines of the time: Since at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport they would face tough, jet competition from major airlines (such as American, Air France, British Caledonian, Delta, Eastern, Iberia, Lufthansa and Mexicana, to name a few) shall they try to offer jet services to further away cities, they would have faced economical problems. Most of them (except Prinair, which actually had a service to Florida for a short period of time), stuck to routes around the Caribbean.

Air Caribbean was not the exception. The airline used DC-3 aircraft from its beginnings, to nearby Caribbean islands, and to Rafael Hernandez Airport in Aguadilla. The airline was prominent for some time among Puerto Rican travellers and American tourists, as it provided, with Prinair, the only two commercial air services to Aguadilla and easier access to nearby Quebradillas.

Demise

The 1970s, as it is widely known, were difficult times for airlines because of the oil crisis and deregulation of the industry in the U.S.

In addition, another competitor, Aero Virgin Islands from the U.S. Virgin Islands, proved an impossible obstacle to overcome for Air Caribbean. In 1979, the airline had its last flight. Aero Virgin islands also outlasted Prinair; out of the aforementioned Caribbean airlines, the only one still providing service is Vieques Air Link.

The "other" "Air Caribbean" airlines

In 1993 another airline called "Air Caribbean" appeared. It was based at Piarco International Airport, and used YS-11 aircraft for the first five years. The airline seemed to be doing reasonably well until the arrival of ageing Boeing 737 aircraft, in July 1998. These aircraft had fuel-thirsty and noisy JT8D engines, and were a financial burden on the airline. Air Caribbean intended to use the 737s on flights to Miami International Airport, but the planes were too noisy for American noise regulations. One of the 737s was so old that a hush kit couldn't be fitted. As a consequence, the planes had to be grounded whilst the hush-kits were fitted to the suitable aircraft.

In early 2000, Air Caribbean offered slashed air fares to Miami, in order to compete with BWIA and American Airlines. This was a financial disaster, as passengers chose to fly with competing airlines who offered modern aircraft. On October 23, 2000, Air Caribbean was closed down, with massive debts. The 737s have since been scrapped in America, and one YS-11 is still at Piarco International Airport, in an abandoned state.

Another reincarnation of Air Caribbean appeared during the late 1990s and early 2000s, offering Boeing 737 airplane flights from Barbados. Claiming to be "the Caribbean's only all-jet fleet", the airline did not survive for long after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

There is also a reference to an Air Caribbean based at Hato Cargo Center, Curaçao.

External links

* [http://www.airlines-airliners.de Air Caribbean at Airliners.de, in German]