An alliance between airlines to facilitate transport in the Caribbean

The Caribsky project consists in creating an alliance between intra-Caribbean airlines in order to find ways to complement one another. The three original companies in fact have different classifications. The French airline Air Antilles, the Dutch company Winair and the Caribbean company LIAT are all different in terms of fleet and schedules.

However, they have a common interest in developing together, creating complementary networks, and adapting their fleet to all airports. Their production tools complement one another, making numerous synergies possible.

A pooling of networks

The Caribbean Islands represent 35 islands linked in an arc 3 500 kilometres long. Overall air traffic in the area is estimated at 4 million passengers, excluding continental routes. Air routes are characterised by great difficulties in getting around. This is due to a lack of direct connections, too few connecting flights, high fares and a quality of service considered to be average. The historical organisation of Caribbean air transport no longer corresponds to the current challenges of a global market and the necessity to transport people and goods between Caribbean territories.

In order to create an alliance between the companies, many obstacles are currently being overcome. It is a question of mobilising human and financial resources, overcoming cultural differences linked to nationality and status (public/private), shifting from a self-centred strategy to a strategy of sharing, and finally, establishing a common organisation.

The networks have been pooled. Air Antilles has already increased its service provision from 10 to 22 destinations and is set to expand further, hoping to reach 35 ports of call in 2020. Today, Air Antilles now has flights throughout the Dutch Caribbean, whereas for the last fifteen years it had remained confined to the French Caribbean.

Caribsky also resulted in the acquisition of two additional regional transport aircraft. Each new plane represents approximately 20 additional jobs, resulting in a total of 40 jobs.

Promotion of tourism and facilitation of travel

This project is primarily intended to bring direct and indirect benefits to Caribbean travellers in the area by increasing direct air links, connection options and frequency of flights. It also allows for a reduction in fares and should improve flow in airports. Finally, it results in loyalty programmes being combined.

Caribsky also benefits the various Caribbean territories by increasing connecting flights and connections with transatlantic flights. Tourism is therefore made more accessible.

Finally, the project benefits the region’s airlines through increased synergies, the pooling of production resources and purchasing processes, fleet optimisation, common training procedures and lower costs.

Total investment and European funding

Total investment for the ‘Interregional Express Air Partnership (PAIRE)/CARIBSKY’ project was EUR 4 933 333; the contribution of the European Regional Development Fund amounted to EUR 2 466 666 under the ‘Interreg Caribbean’ cooperation programme for the 2014-2020 programming period. The investment falls under the ‘Jobs, Growth and Investment’ priority.