CAL to charge up to $1,000 for unsubsidised Tobago flights
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Trinidad and Tobago's Tourism Minister has proposed that Caribbean Airlines introduce unsubsidised peak-period flights between Trinidad and Tobago at up to TT$1,000 return (US$147)— more than double the current subsidised TT$400 (US$59) fare — sparking debate about elitism, affordability, and the future of the troubled airbridge.
Trinidad and Tobago's Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Satyakama "Kama" Maharaj, has announced that Caribbean Airlines (CAL) is moving toward introducing unsubsidised peak-period flights on the Trinidad-Tobago airbridge, with return fares expected to range from TT$960 (US$142) to TT$1,000 (US$147)— more than double the current government-subsidised fare of TT$400 (US$59).
Maharaj made the disclosure while speaking to Guardian Media at the launch of the Sail Clear platform at Cruise Inn, Chaguaramas.
He said the proposal centres on two daily unsubsidised flights — one in the morning, one in the evening — during peak travel periods, with passengers paying market-rate fares in exchange for a guaranteed seat.
"If you want a flight tomorrow, you pay. I think it would be about $800 to $1,000 return, which is nothing — but you have a secure seat," Maharaj said. He added that capacity could be scaled up should demand require it: "If we need more, we put more."
The minister also confirmed that Government is in active talks with external carriers to service the route, noting the possibility of a locally branded operation — floating names such as "Tobago Express" — alongside CAL's existing services.
The announcement comes after a chaotic lead-up to Tobago's 2025 carnival, when stakeholders raised the alarm over passengers holding bookings but unable to secure seats. The crisis was only resolved after Chief Secretary Farley Augustine personally intervened, resulting in CAL unlocking 3,200 additional seats on top of the 18,792 already allocated for the October 22–29 window.
• Unsubsidised peak-period return fares would range from TT$960 to TT$1,000, compared to the current subsidised TT$400 fare • Proposal covers two daily flights — morning and evening — with capacity scalable on demand • Announcement made by Minister Maharaj at the Sail Clear platform launch, Cruise Inn, Chaguaramas • Government is in talks with external carriers, with a locally branded 'Tobago Express'-style operation floated as a possibility • CAL added 3,200 seats for Tobago carnival 2025 after Chief Secretary Augustine's direct intervention, supplementing 18,792 already allocated for October 22–29.
Peak-period return fares for two daily unsubsidised Trinidad-Tobago flights, ensuring guaranteed seats[1]
Government-subsidised fare for Trinidad-Tobago airbridge flights, more than double which is the proposed rate[1]
Dollar conversion of proposed peak-period fares at market rates[1]
Dollar conversion of existing government-subsidised fare[1]
Proposed unsubsidised fares represent more than double the current subsidised TT$400 rate[1]
One morning and one evening flight during peak periods, with potential to scale up on demand[1]
Unsubsidised fares could more than double costs for peak travel, raising affordability concerns for Tobago airbridge users
Guaranteed seats at market rates aim to address reliability issues on the vital inter-island route
Government exploring external carriers amid ongoing talks to enhance competition and capacity
If implemented, the proposal would mark a significant structural shift in how T&T manages its domestic airbridge — moving from a blanket subsidy model to a tiered pricing system.
For Tobago residents who depend on the route for work and daily life, the concern is not just affordability but equity: will subsidised flights be deprioritised when the more expensive seats are in play?
For CAL, relief from subsidy dependency could strengthen financial sustainability.
For the tourism sector, higher fares risk deterring visitors at a time when the region is already battling high aviation taxes flagged by IATA.
"Globally, taxes and charges make up approximately 15% of ticket prices — in the Caribbean, this constitutes 30% on average, with some destinations reaching as high as 50 per cent of the total ticket cost."
— IATA Vice President for the Americas Peter Cerdá, Caribbean Aviation Day, September 2022
Social Conversation: neutral
Social media posts about Caribbean Airlines and Tobago reflect a mix of neutral discussions on airline agreements and regional issues alongside positive tourism sentiments.
Caribbean Airlines agreementsTobago tourismregional connectivity issues
"4/7 - Caribbean cancellations ❌
AS Capoise had to withdraw from the 2025 CFU Club Shield - the Caribbean's second-tier competition - as no airline would take them to Trinidad & Tobago.
The absence caused chaos. Academy Eagles progressed ahead of Academia Quintana on fair pl"
@SweeperPod · 5m ago · View on X
"The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago has urged Caribbean countries to reassess fuel security risks amid disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that import-dependent systems remain exposed to external shocks.
READ MORE: https://t.co/z4hX1V4jCj https://t.co/UIsUnSIF8O"
@oilnowgy · Georgetown, Guyana · 41m ago · View on X
"Caribbean Airlines and the Trinidad and Tobago Airline Pilots Association have announced they have signed a collective bargaining agreement.
READ MORE HERE: https://t.co/gMWv4HMqNV https://t.co/zaMmzjABPD"
@NationwideRadio · 14 Ocean Boulevard, Kingston · 18h ago · 4 engagements · View on X
"How fabulous is this customer photo of Double Chocolate Biscuits chilling poolside in Tobago, Caribbean?! 🏖️🌞🏊♂️
Thank you, Maddy for sharing this photo with us ~ We hope you had a fabulous time!🫶
#Bothams #BiscuitsOnTour #DoubleChocolate #Biscuits #Caribbean https://t.co/"
@BothamsofWhitby · Whitby, North Yorkshire. · 20h ago · View on X
Based on 19 posts from X · Apr 24, 2026
Supportive — market-rate fares for peak flights are viable and overdue: Lutchmedial argues that current airbridge fares are already heavily below market value, and that a differentiated pricing model for peak-hour services is practical and sustainable. He supports the proposal, noting passengers willing to pay market prices make the arrangement workable, while flagging that non-residents' access to the same subsidy as residents is worth revisiting.
Cautiously supportive — but only with data-driven, structured design: James says tiered pricing could improve efficiency but must be based on rigorous data about who travels and why, including means-testing by age and circumstance. He warns against politically convenient but poorly designed solutions, and suggests a graduated model — $600, $800 seats — rather than a binary subsidised/unsubsidised split.
Critical — proposal risks entrenching inequality without community consultation: Hadad challenges whether premium flights will receive operational priority over subsidised ones during disruptions, and argues the proposal amounts to 'elitist segregation.' She criticises the lack of consultation with Tobago residents and notes this is the second consecutive government to spotlight subsidy costs without meaningfully resolving airbridge connectivity.
"Are we going to make sure that those flights fly and the $400 ones are delayed? Or if we have a breakdown, we going to make sure that the $1,000 people fly? There are a lot of things that have not been discussed or addressed."
— Diane Hadad, Tobago businesswoman, via CNC3 / Guardian Media
The Trinidad-Tobago airbridge is not simply a transport route — it is a constitutional lifeline for citizens of a twin-island state.
Tobagonians have heard promises about connectivity reform before, and they are right to be sceptical. Minister Maharaj's proposal for unsubsidised peak flights is not inherently unreasonable: a tiered pricing model that preserves affordable access while generating revenue from those who can pay more is a legitimate tool used in aviation globally.
But the devil is in the governance details, and right now there are none on the table.
The government has not explained how subsidised and unsubsidised flights will be prioritised during disruptions. It has not consulted meaningfully with Tobago communities. It has not confirmed any airline partners. And it is floating a policy that, if poorly designed, could entrench a two-class airbridge in a country that cannot afford that symbolism.
The economic pressures driving this shift are real. Trinidad and Tobago is quietly retreating from the rigidities of its fixed exchange rate, with citizens already facing tightening restrictions on US dollar access at home and abroad. Sustaining an open-ended airbridge subsidy in that environment is increasingly difficult to justify — even for a route this essential.
Caribbean Airlines compounds the picture. Carrying debt exceeding US$250 million, the airline has cancelled profitable Jamaica-Florida routes while simultaneously maintaining subsidised fares on the airbridge. That contradiction has not gone unexamined: there are voices in the region attempting to assign part of CAL's financial burden to Jamaica, invoking the legacy of the now-defunct Air Jamaica. That argument does not hold — but the fact that it is being made at all reflects how badly the airline's finances need a credible, public accounting.
The move toward market-rate peak fares makes economic sense. But economics alone cannot be the framework for a route that connects citizens to their own country. The government must move from ministerial announcements to transparent policy — with the people of Tobago at the table from the start, and with Caribbean Airlines' finances open to the scrutiny this moment demands.
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