Air Caribbean was a Trinidadian airline operating between 1993 and 2000.
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.[1] 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 purcheased 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 didn't stop; 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.[citation needed] On October 23, 2000, Air Caribbean was closed down, with massive debts. The 737s have since been scrapped in America,[citation needed] and one YS-11 is still at Piarco International Airport, in an abandoned state.
The Airline operated a fleet of six NAMC YS-11's and two Boeing 737-200 aircraft.
