Air Caribbean (Trinidad and Tobago)

{{Infobox airline

| airline = Air Caribbean Limited

| image = Air Caribbean logo.svg

| image_size =

| IATA = C2

| ICAO = CBB

| callsign = IBIS

| founded = 1993

| commenced = 1993

| ceased = 23 October 2000

| hubs = Piarco International Airport

| secondary_hubs =

| focus_cities =

| frequent_flyer =

| lounge =

| alliance =

| subsidiaries =

| fleet_size = 8

| destinations = 5

| parent =

| key_people = Leslie Lucky-Samaroo (chairman)

| company_slogan =

| headquarters = Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago

| website =

}}

Air Caribbean was a Trinidadian airline operating between 1993 and 2000.

History

The airline was based at Piarco International Airport and used YS-11 aircraft for the first five years. In March 1998 the airline purchased a Boeing 737-200 Advanced and announced Miami as a new destination.{{cite web | url=https://www.flightglobal.com/air-caribbean-plans-long-haul-services/26967.article | title=Air Caribbean plans long-haul services | publisher=FlightGlobal.com | access-date=2024-05-10}} This aircraft had fuel-thirsty and noisy JT8D engines, and were a financial burden to the airline. The plane was too noisy for American noise regulations, delaying the Miami plans. Until mid-1999 the airline purchased two more 737-200s and announced further plans to fly to Caracas, New York, Orlando and Toronto. The problems with the US Department of Transport did not stop; one of the 737s was so old that a hush kit could not 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.{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} On October 23, 2000, Air Caribbean was closed down, with massive debts. The 737s have since been scrapped in America,{{Citation needed|date=May 2024}} and one YS-11 is still at Piarco International Airport, in an abandoned state.