Since its October 2023 inception, Cayman Airways’ Barbados-Cayman service has averaged 34 passengers per flight through January.
That route carried 1,912 paid passengers on 56 flights between October and January.
The data suggests Cayman Airways should reconsider the flight, according to former Tourism Minister and Opposition MP Moses Kirkconnell.
The Compass said that Barbados guarantees the airline a minimum revenue guarantee for the route regardless of passenger count.
“If you have time on a plane, you fly what will benefit the Cayman Islands. Do you know where to fly that jet that will benefit the Cayman Islands more than Barbados? Kirkconnell, opposition Cayman Brac West and Little Cayman MP, asked.
In his six-month review of the route, Cayman Airways CEO and president Fabian Whorms disagreed.
According to Whorms, the operation has been successful for the airline and has improved operational efficiency by utilising available capacity on certain days of the week.
He claimed these efforts “do not displace any of our other activities at this time.”
He added Cayman Airways’ minimum income “is contractually guaranteed by Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc.”.
“BTMI revenue ensures that Cayman Airways does not incur any losses on the service being provided in collaboration with BTMI,” he added.
In October, Cayman Airways inaugurated a twice-weekly flight to and from Barbados, with Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan promising no lost revenue.
He said the Barbados government would guarantee Cayman Airways minimum Grand Cayman-Bridgetown revenues.
Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc., which represents the government in tourism concerns, guaranteed CAL “minimum revenues” for operating the scheduled service for one year.
The Barbados government has not announced the minimal revenue or whether it has paid the Cayman Islands government.
