Caribbean Island is formed at St. Thomas, U. S. Virgin Islands, in 1969 to offer scheduled third-level Beech 18 passenger and cargo flights to San Juan, Puerto Rico.
On October 28, 1970, Robert Manley, copilot of a Beech 18 making a San Juan to St. Thomas flight falls to his death while attempting to close a door that had opened during flight.
Operations continue with no further problems until the carrier ceases operations in 1975. During these years, the fleet is enhanced by the addition of a single de Havilland Canada DHC-6-100 Twin Otter.
CARIBBEAN STAR AIRLINES, LTD.: Airport Road, Coolidge, Antigua, Year Founded 2000. Caribbean Star is established at Antigua in the late spring of 2000 by R. Allen Stanford, a Texan and owner of the local newspaper The Antigua Sun. Former BWIA West Indies Airways, Ltd. President Gilles Filiatreault is named president. Orders are placed for 5 de Havilland Canada DHC-8-100/300s, necessary government applications are filed, a staff is hired and trained, and arrangements for participation in the Gabriel reservations system are completed.
After several delays, the carrier receives its aircraft operating certificates in early September, along with authority to launch scheduled services to several Caribbean destinations. Ground is broken for an 11,000-sq.-ft. hangar that will be completed at V. C. Bird International Airport in November. The first two proving flights, to St. Lucia, are completed by the three available DASH-8s at mid-month.
On October 6, Grenada becomes the first government to grant route rights; LIAT (1974), Ltd., the most probable competitor, files objections to permits from Barbados, Dominica, Trinidad, and St. Lucia. To protect cash-strapped LIAT, the Antigua and Barbuda government refuses Caribbean Star flying rights on the profitable route to St. Martin.
Even before scheduled flights commence, the airline is engaged in moneymaking charters. On October 7-8, the Antigua Hash House Harriers employ the carrier for its weekend flights to and from St. Kitts. A special charter to Dominica is flown on October 13 for persons attending the funeral of the late Prime Minister Rosie Douglas. Two days later, three charters transport citizens from St. Kitts to a special Gem Radio event at San Haven Beach.
On October 14, the new entrant receives a provisional Trinidad and Tobago route license and the inauguration of scheduled services from Antigua to that point, as well as Puerto Rico, are announced for October 18.
Employing 3 DASH-8-100s and 1DASH-8-300, Caribbean Star launches low-cost roundtrip service on October 18 from Antigua to Trinidad via Grenada. Receipt of route rights from Dominica allows the inauguration of service between Antigua and Roseau on October 23.
In the wake of the failure of Air Caribbean, Ltd., Caribbean Star on October 27 applies to the Air Transport Licensing Authority to operate a service on the Trinidad and Tobago air bridge. After an objection by BWIA West Indies Airways, Ltd., ATLA Chairman Ramsaran Bisses-sar announces that law and international treaties exclude the Antigua-based carrier’s bid.
CARIBBEAN UNITED AIRWAYS, S. A.: Trinidad and Tobago (1973-1974). Originally established at Trinidad as Arawak Airlines, S. A. in June 1970, this company changes its name in 1973. Revenue flights to Tobago continue until January 1974 with a single Beech 99 and 3 Convair CV-440s.
CARIBJET, S. A.: Belgium (1995-1996). Caribjet is established at Brussels in 1995 to operate long-haul charters, both for it and for other carriers. A pair of Airbus Industrie A310-324s, previously operated by Delta Air Lines, are put into service on behalf of Air India, Ltd. Later, two Lockheed L-1011-500s are chartered from TAP-Air Portugal, S. A. and also begin flying on behalf of the New Delhi-based major.
During the first quarter of 1996, the two TriStars go out of service. They are, however, replaced by a third Portuguese L-1011-500 on March 8. After it has been repainted, it begins flying on behalf of Air Mauritius, Ltd. on March 15. Flights end after the summer season.
World History
