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The few reasons I have not used BW recently, the a/c are dated and the IFE is non existent. I hope that has changed with the streaming IFE. Flying via OGL is easier as I can leave 1 hour before the flight and get there with time to spare. I get a good reason to stop over/visit friends in BGI and POS. I have not used the AA flight yet but it is great, and affordable for flights GEO-EWR which I fly regularly.

Out of curiosity are there any airports in the Caribbean that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. And if so which Island will possibly get it first.

beeweel15 wrote:

Out of curiosity are there any airports in the Caribbean that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. And if so which Island will possibly get it first.

PUJ can take it now. All of these could be capable with minor changes: SDQ, AUA, CUR, POS, PTP, SJU, FDF. This is according to Airbus

Add BGI to that list.

windian425 wrote:

Add BGI to that list.

You’re right

beeweel15 wrote:

Out of curiosity are there any airports in the Caribbean that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. And if so which Island will possibly get it first.

I can tell you the A380 has been to PTP and FDF during its certification stages. For commercial service, I don't see anywhere outside the same PTP and FDF getting A380 service anytime soon and even that is being ambitious.

LimaFoxTango wrote:

beeweel15 wrote:

Out of curiosity are there any airports in the Caribbean that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. And if so which Island will possibly get it first.

I can tell you the A380 has been to PTP and FDF during its certification stages. For commercial service, I don't see anywhere outside the same PTP and FDF getting A380 service anytime soon and even that is being ambitious.

I don’t see regular service anytime soon, but charters from Moscow to PUJ already use 777-300ER. Larger equipment seems reasonable

The AA MIA GEO service is to allow immediate turn around. GEO is too far to allow the normal mid/late morning MIA departure with a return in time for the evening domestic departures. So they run a late night flight to GEO with a very early morning arrival back. The evening departures to BGI/POS overnight.

AA can pretty much do as it wishes as it is the only large carrier into GEO. They are the alternate to BW. B6 (probably in by tear end, depending on approvals as they are submitting their paperwork) will introduce an additional dimension of competition into GEO.

OJ JFK-KIN FEB 0.7>0[0.6] MAR 0.7>0[0.5] APR 0.7>0[0.7] MAY 0.7>0[0.7] JUN 0.7>0[0.7] JUL 0.7>0[0.7] AUG 0.7>0[0.7] SEP 0.7>0[0.7] OCT 0.7>0[0.6]

Taken from this week’s OAG thread. I guess this means the suspense is finally over and that OJ is officially no more.

I agree with LimaFoxTango. I also see PTP and FDF as the first airports in the Caribbean to get scheduled A380 operations. The airline I see using it there eventually is Air Caraibes. Just my opinion.

A388

Brickell305 wrote:

OJ JFK-KIN FEB 0.7>0[0.6] MAR 0.7>0[0.5] APR 0.7>0[0.7] MAY 0.7>0[0.7] JUN 0.7>0[0.7] JUL 0.7>0[0.7] AUG 0.7>0[0.7] SEP 0.7>0[0.7] OCT 0.7>0[0.6]

Taken from this week’s OAG thread. I guess this means the suspense is finally over and that OJ is officially no more.

That was to be expected the crash really was the end for them.

baje427 wrote:

Brickell305 wrote:

OJ JFK-KIN FEB 0.7>0[0.6] MAR 0.7>0[0.5] APR 0.7>0[0.7] MAY 0.7>0[0.7] JUN 0.7>0[0.7] JUL 0.7>0[0.7] AUG 0.7>0[0.7] SEP 0.7>0[0.7] OCT 0.7>0[0.6]

Taken from this week’s OAG thread. I guess this means the suspense is finally over and that OJ is officially no more.

That was to be expected the crash really was the end for them.

It looks like they are suffering from severe financial difficulties. Passengers from canceled flights are fighting for refunds and seem to be given the runaround. It also looks as if their employees are not being paid. This is not good. I think it will be a matter of time before government agencies begin pressing them for answers.

INFINITI329 wrote:

baje427 wrote:

Brickell305 wrote:

Taken from this week’s OAG thread. I guess this means the suspense is finally over and that OJ is officially no more.

That was to be expected the crash really was the end for them.

It looks like they are suffering from severe financial difficulties. Passengers from canceled flights are fighting for refunds and seem to be given the runaround. It also looks as if their employees are not being paid. This is not good. I think it will be a matter of time before government agencies begin pressing them for answers.

Not to talk about payments for landing fees, ground handling, catering, etc. After last year's fiasco the Jamaica gov't had threatened to withdraw their AOC if their performance didn't improve. One can bet that complaints have also been made to the US authorities. The 1st quarter is tough for the VFR market and I just dont see people rushing to make Easter travel arrangements with them.


Their Website/FB is still up so I dont think that they have admitted defeat yet.

guyanam wrote:

INFINITI329 wrote:

baje427 wrote:

That was to be expected the crash really was the end for them.

It looks like they are suffering from severe financial difficulties. Passengers from canceled flights are fighting for refunds and seem to be given the runaround. It also looks as if their employees are not being paid. This is not good. I think it will be a matter of time before government agencies begin pressing them for answers.

Not to talk about payments for landing fees, ground handling, catering, etc. After last year's fiasco the Jamaica gov't had threatened to withdraw their AOC if their performance didn't improve. One can bet that complaints have also been made to the US authorities. The 1st quarter is tough for the VFR market and I just dont see people rushing to make Easter travel arrangements with them.


Their Website/FB is still up so I dont think that they have admitted defeat yet.

I'm wondering if their web presence is still there simply because they no longer have the staff to take it down. I can't see what they could possibly be flying/operating if they're no longer on JFK-KIN.

AA ANU-MIA SEP 1.0>0.1[1.0] OCT 1.9>0.9[1.0]

This was another shocker for me. AA seems to be effectively cutting ANU off in the month of September (I've checked aa.com. It doesn't appear to be a 1x week service.). I've never seen ANU-MIA dropped like that in low season. In more recent years, it's been daily throughout. I wonder why the drastic change this year?

Brickell305 wrote:

guyanam wrote:

INFINITI329 wrote:

It looks like they are suffering from severe financial difficulties. Passengers from canceled flights are fighting for refunds and seem to be given the runaround. It also looks as if their employees are not being paid. This is not good. I think it will be a matter of time before government agencies begin pressing them for answers.

Not to talk about payments for landing fees, ground handling, catering, etc. After last year's fiasco the Jamaica gov't had threatened to withdraw their AOC if their performance didn't improve. One can bet that complaints have also been made to the US authorities. The 1st quarter is tough for the VFR market and I just dont see people rushing to make Easter travel arrangements with them.


Their Website/FB is still up so I dont think that they have admitted defeat yet.

I'm wondering if their web presence is still there simply because they no longer have the staff to take it down. I can't see what they could possibly be flying/operating if they're no longer on JFK-KIN.

AA ANU-MIA SEP 1.0>0.1[1.0] OCT 1.9>0.9[1.0]

This was another shocker for me. AA seems to be effectively cutting ANU off in the month of September (I've checked aa.com. It doesn't appear to be a 1x week service.). I've never seen ANU-MIA dropped like that in low season. In more recent years, it's been daily throughout. I wonder why the drastic change this year?

I find it very odd JFK ANU is still showing as a weekly service and MIA ANU goes back to daily in Oct. Seems very odd to me.

There is no MIA-ANU service between 4 September and 2 October, then there will be the daily AA2487. There will be another daily AA2405 commencing 16 November. All flights will be operated with the 7M8.

gunnerman wrote:

There is no MIA-ANU service between 4 September and 2 October, then there will be the daily AA2487. There will be another daily AA2405 commencing 16 November. All flights will be operated with the 7M8.

Why not send an E175 or an A319 rather than suspending service for a month?

INFINITI329 wrote:

gunnerman wrote:

There is no MIA-ANU service between 4 September and 2 October, then there will be the daily AA2487. There will be another daily AA2405 commencing 16 November. All flights will be operated with the 7M8.

Why not send an E175 or an A319 rather than suspending service for a month?

This is strange as SKB is maintaining daily service. Is it that AA is making some changes that they haven't finalized yet so haven't put them in their system yet?

AA hasn't loaded availability or a timetable for the period in question, so we'll just have to wait and see what happens.

A388 wrote:

I agree with LimaFoxTango. I also see PTP and FDF as the first airports in the Caribbean to get scheduled A380 operations. The airline I see using it there eventually is Air Caraibes. Just my opinion.

A388

Why would Air Caraibes be your best bet? They don't fly the A380, they recently introduced a new type, 2 A350's, into the fleet and are awaiting deliveries for 4 more frames by 2020. No current orders for A380 nor rumors or discussions about it etc... While I highly doubt the A380 will ever have regular service to the Caribbean, I'd put more money on that than on Air Caraibes acquiring the A380.

If anything, Air France does have A380's and if memory serves me correctly they did a few CDG-CUN flights with it a few years ago. That would be my bet. They currently run x2 daily 77W to both islands, I could see them maybe up-gauging one of those dailies to an A380 if they have slack in the fleet. Saturday only would be a nice bet, they used to run 2 A340's between CDG and SXM on Saturdays before Irma hit.

AA ANU-MIA AUG 1.6>2[1.0] SEP 0.1>1.1[1.0] NOV 1.5>1.0[1.0]

It looks like last week’s OAG changes to ANU-MIA were an error. This is the filing from this week.

Insel Air suspends ABC interisland routes until further notice due to their only Fokker-50 being voluntarily grounded for safety reasons. The only operational route is now Curacao-St.Maarten which they operate together with Divi Divi Air using a Boeing 737-800 wet-leased from Corendon Dutch Airlines.

Is this the final nail in the coffin for Insel Air? I can't imagine them recovering from this with no more aircraft left in the fleet that are fit to fly. And I doubt the wet-lease agreement with Corendon is making enough money to keep them afloat.

Mynn/Nas is capable as well....it's a known diversion listing for BAW & AF

303dk wrote:

beeweel15 wrote:

Out of curiosity are there any airports in the Caribbean that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. And if so which Island will possibly get it first.

PUJ can take it now. All of these could be capable with minor changes: SDQ, AUA, CUR, POS, PTP, SJU, FDF. This is according to Airbus

Sky High Aviation launched Aguadilla and San Juan, Puerto Rico to the network starting this feb 22. Their ERJ145 HI1024 (doing acceptance flights rigth now) and plans to add more this year

Air Century adding SJU-STI route with their CRJ200 starting April 2. Plans to add a 3rd CRJ this year and launch service to Tortola, Antigua and Kingston

TropicalSky wrote:

Mynn/Nas is capable as well....it's a known diversion listing for BAW & AF

303dk wrote:

beeweel15 wrote:

Out of curiosity are there any airports in the Caribbean that can handle the Airbus A380 aircraft. And if so which Island will possibly get it first.

PUJ can take it now. All of these could be capable with minor changes: SDQ, AUA, CUR, POS, PTP, SJU, FDF. This is according to Airbus

NAS isn’t in the Caribbean

Norwegian is leaving the Carribean as from next tourist season, Aviation24.be reports. “We realise that we have not achieved the desired profitability,” explains Marion Lamure, Communications Officer at Norwegian.

Norwegian flies to Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and Fort-de-France (Martinique) from Montréal, New York JFK and Fort Lauderdale. The airline also links the two Caribbean islands to Cayenne in French Guyana. All these routes will be abandoned after the winter season.

Source: https://www.aviation24.be/airlines/norw ... caribbean/

Pardon me for miss speaking on the subject....carry on smartly

303dk wrote:

TropicalSky wrote:

Mynn/Nas is capable as well....it's a known diversion listing for BAW & AF

303dk wrote:

PUJ can take it now. All of these could be capable with minor changes: SDQ, AUA, CUR, POS, PTP, SJU, FDF. This is according to Airbus

NAS isn’t in the Caribbean

Since when have we excluded the Bahamas from the Caribbean?

Caymanair wrote:

Since when have we excluded the Bahamas from the Caribbean?

Because geographically, they are not. Neither are the Turks and Caicos Islands. We all know politically and culturally we are all one. Lets not make this an argument, everyone is welcomed to participate in the discussion.

LimaFoxTango wrote:

Caymanair wrote:

Since when have we excluded the Bahamas from the Caribbean?

Because geographically, they are not. Neither are the Turks and Caicos Islands. We all know politically and culturally we are all one. Lets not make this an argument, everyone is welcomed to participate in the discussion.

So geographically where do you place Barbados and Trinidad?

Speedbird2155 wrote:

LimaFoxTango wrote:

Caymanair wrote:

Since when have we excluded the Bahamas from the Caribbean?

Because geographically, they are not. Neither are the Turks and Caicos Islands. We all know politically and culturally we are all one. Lets not make this an argument, everyone is welcomed to participate in the discussion.

So geographically where do you place Barbados and Trinidad?

Trinidad falls within the Caribbean island chain. Personally, I put Barbados out there with Bermuda, but that’s a whole different discussion. If it makes you feel any better, the term West Indies would include the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos (and Barbados).

Insel Air loses AOC :

http://bes-reporter.com/index.php/2019/ ... WplkPATxdI

guyanam wrote:

PBM isn't sufficient to allow PY to run a nonstop to MIA, so if they lose on the GEO then they might have problems.

AA is a strong brand and with tremendous feed at MIA. I anticipate that they will be up to daily before year end, at least at peak periods. Even NYC will feed into this route, at least until B6 enters. The latter are in the process of submitting paperwork to the GCAA and given that GEO is eager to get major brands I anticipate that this will be approved as quickly as the current quagmire in Guyana governance will allow.

Not sure what PYs long term plans are, because at one time they involved setting up GEO as a major focus point with nonstops to NYC and YY, in addition to MIA.

AA being a strong brand didn't work for them on the JFK/BGI route, once B6 made its entrance.

AEROFAN wrote:

guyanam wrote:

PBM isn't sufficient to allow PY to run a nonstop to MIA, so if they lose on the GEO then they might have problems.

AA is a strong brand and with tremendous feed at MIA. I anticipate that they will be up to daily before year end, at least at peak periods. Even NYC will feed into this route, at least until B6 enters. The latter are in the process of submitting paperwork to the GCAA and given that GEO is eager to get major brands I anticipate that this will be approved as quickly as the current quagmire in Guyana governance will allow.

Not sure what PYs long term plans are, because at one time they involved setting up GEO as a major focus point with nonstops to NYC and YY, in addition to MIA.

AA being a strong brand didn't work for them on the JFK/BGI route, once B6 made its entrance.

You would notice AA doesn't do very well on their JFK to Eastern Caribbean runs. The only placed they maintain a solid yearround service is ANU. For some reason B6 refuses to increase from their 3w service to ANU. Even DL drops in every now and then with a 1w flight. Something tells me politics is at play here.

It was expected that Insel would fold they held on longer than I expected. Does anyone know if Inter Caribbean has placed their E145 into service ?

LimaFoxTango wrote:

AEROFAN wrote:

guyanam wrote:

PBM isn't sufficient to allow PY to run a nonstop to MIA, so if they lose on the GEO then they might have problems.

AA is a strong brand and with tremendous feed at MIA. I anticipate that they will be up to daily before year end, at least at peak periods. Even NYC will feed into this route, at least until B6 enters. The latter are in the process of submitting paperwork to the GCAA and given that GEO is eager to get major brands I anticipate that this will be approved as quickly as the current quagmire in Guyana governance will allow.

Not sure what PYs long term plans are, because at one time they involved setting up GEO as a major focus point with nonstops to NYC and YY, in addition to MIA.

AA being a strong brand didn't work for them on the JFK/BGI route, once B6 made its entrance.

You would notice AA doesn't do very well on their JFK to Eastern Caribbean runs. The only placed they maintain a solid yearround service is ANU. For some reason B6 refuses to increase from their 3w service to ANU. Even DL drops in every now and then with a 1w flight. Something tells me politics is at play here.

Perhaps it's politics or the islands' refusal to ante up the subsidies that AA require to provide service.

To start with, please let us not split hairs about what the Caribbean is defined as. The Bahamas is socio-culturally part of the Caribbean even if it lies marginally outside and many Bahamian aviation issues have been covered in the Caribbean forum over the years. Bermuda, even further away, can be considered likewise. We already had the schism in the forum 12 or so years ago, let's keep things sensible and focused on aviation.


It has been a hard week for aviation with several airline casualties. Insel Air's failure is unfortunate as they were the last Curacao based carrier to have a sizeable network, which included POS at one point. Best wishes to all of the affected staff. The biggest news of the week, of course, was the announced closure of the Airbus A380 programme. As we have been discussing this lately, this closure effectively puts paid to any regular A380 flights to the region in my opinion. Air Caraibes (or anyone for that matter) cannot purchase any - and I do not see why they would have wanted to buy them anyway as the A330 and A350 combination appears optimal for their network. Remember that the ORY - FDF / PTP / CAY routes have significant competition from AF and Corsair. AF have 10 of A380s but have announced that they will only keep 5 owned frames in the future, returning the 5 leased ones when the leases are up. (That said I have heard rumours that they would hang on to 2 of the leased frames.) Again I do not see them using them to the Caribbean, especially as they are based at CDG and most Caribbean flights operate from ORY.


Norwegian (DY)'s closures of services to FDF, PTP and CAY are also unfortunate as they tried something radically different to the region. DY though are in a difficult spot with routes being cut, Dreamliners grounded with engine issues and a 737 MAX 8 stranded in Iran. The Caribbean routes are perhaps the least of their woes right now.

Trintocan.

The A380s were just an idle speculation. The only quadjets to the region are VS's 744s to BGI (5x weekly), MBJ (3) and HAV (2), and one day they will all be replaced with twinjets.

gunnerman wrote:

The A380s were just an idle speculation. The only quadjets to the region are VS's 744s to BGI (5x weekly), MBJ (3) and HAV (2), and one day they will all be replaced with twinjets.

Add KLM to CUR and PBM and also CRL to PTP and FDF

BWA900 wrote:

gunnerman wrote:

The A380s were just an idle speculation. The only quadjets to the region are VS's 744s to BGI (5x weekly), MBJ (3) and HAV (2), and one day they will all be replaced with twinjets.

Add KLM to CUR and PBM and also CRL to PTP and FDF

Also add PY with the A340-300 on PBM-AMS.

Trintocan.

Thanks for the updates, I was too UK-centric.

It will be a bit sad when the day comes with no more quadjets to the Caribbean.

gunnerman wrote:

Thanks for the updates, I was too UK-centric.

It will be a bit sad when the day comes with no more quadjets to the Caribbean.

At least we'd be lucky enough to see the Cargo 747 and Antonov tech-ops from time to time

AA MIA-GEO is bookable on their website daily from May 2019 thru the end of the year. Same A319. Fares have been reduced substantially. One of Guyana's dailies says OJ is looking to return mid March 2019.

The MIA-GEO daily schedule is from 3 May 2019 until 20 March 2020. We'll have to wait and see if this will remain daily year-round.

BGI launched an expansion and renovation project this past week. Would be interesting to see the new proposed improvements.

http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/ne ... 2Af50cfgVE