Published on December 3, 2025
In a bold move shaking up the region’s travel landscape, Caribbean Airlines (CAL) has confirmed that it will suspend its services to San Juan, Puerto Rico, and Tortola, British Virgin Islands (BVI) as of 10 January 2026. In a move that’s expected to alter the air connectivity in the Eastern Caribbean, the airline will also close its Barbados hub at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) in February 2026. This significant reduction in CAL’s network marks the airline’s shift away from recent expansion plans, focusing instead on cost optimization and consolidation around its main hub in Trinidad.

The Shock Decision: Suspension of San Juan and Tortola Routes

Effective 10 January 2026, Caribbean Airlines will cease operations on two recently opened routes: the service between Trinidad, Barbados, Tortola, and San Juan, along with the reverse route. This move has raised eyebrows within the travel industry, especially considering the routes were just added as part of CAL’s regional expansion initiative. With San Juan and Tortola among the most popular Caribbean destinations, the suspension of these routes is likely to cause significant disruption for passengers who previously relied on CAL’s direct connections.

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CAL is also pulling the plug on the flights linking Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands, two key gateways in the Caribbean. This means travelers planning direct connections between these destinations will need to find alternative carriers or more circuitous routes via other airports.

What Travelers Need to Know: Refunds and Alternative Travel Options

For those holding tickets for flights affected by the route suspensions, CAL has announced a full refund policy. Passengers booked on flights between San Juan, Tortola, and Trinidad will automatically receive refunds. Those who booked through third-party agents or platforms will be contacted directly for refund processing. CAL has assured that passengers can check the status of their booking through their official website or by contacting customer service.

For travelers in the region, this sudden change may lead to increased travel times and the need for additional layovers to reach these popular destinations. While CAL’s decision was based on performance metrics, including low passenger numbers on these newly introduced routes, it raises serious concerns about the future of direct Caribbean-to-Caribbean flights.

The Bigger Picture: Why Caribbean Airlines is Making These Cuts

CAL’s decision to suspend services to San Juan and Tortola is part of a broader strategy to cut costs and optimize its network. According to the airline, the routes have not met expected demand levels, which resulted in low load factors — the percentage of seats sold on a flight. As a result, these routes became financially unviable and CAL made the decision to focus its resources on more profitable and higher-demand services.

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The airline has cited the need for a more streamlined network as a driving force behind the change. CAL intends to focus its resources on its primary hub at Piarco International Airport in Trinidad, where it has historically seen stronger demand. The suspension of these routes also comes in the wake of the airline’s ongoing review of all routes and its commitment to ensuring the sustainability and competitiveness of its operations in the face of fluctuating travel demand.

Barbados Hub: CAL’s Withdrawal Signals New Phase in Regional Operations

Perhaps the most significant change coming from this strategy is the closure of CAL’s operations at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) in Barbados. Effective February 2026, CAL will withdraw its Barbados base, including relocating aircraft and staff to Trinidad. This marks a dramatic shift in the airline’s regional operations, as Barbados has historically served as one of the airline’s key bases for both passenger and cargo flights.
Although Barbados-originating flights will continue, they will be rerouted via Trinidad, increasing travel times for those needing to fly to other Caribbean destinations or beyond. This restructuring will affect CAL’s ability to provide flexible, direct services from Barbados to other Caribbean nations and potentially complicate future expansion plans for Barbados as a tourism hub.
By shifting its focus to a centralised hub in Trinidad, CAL aims to streamline operations and reduce overhead costs. The move to consolidate flights under a single hub model aligns with the airline’s emphasis on improving operational efficiency and reliability.

What Does This Mean for Regional Connectivity?

CAL’s decision has far-reaching implications for Caribbean connectivity, particularly in the Eastern Caribbean, where the airline has been a dominant player for decades. The suspension of flights to San Juan and Tortola, two key Caribbean destinations, will affect the entire travel network, causing ripple effects throughout the region.

• Longer travel times: With Barbados no longer serving as a major hub, passengers may need to fly through Trinidad before connecting to other Caribbean islands, leading to longer, less direct flights.
• Disrupted inter-island links: For passengers traveling to smaller islands that relied on connecting flights through Puerto Rico or Tortola, this new structure will likely result in fewer options for seamless travel within the region.
• Economic impact: The loss of direct connections to San Juan and Tortola could hinder the growth of the tourism industries in both destinations. Fewer flights mean fewer visitors, which could negatively impact the tourism sector, especially in Tortola, which is a prime location for sailing and maritime tourism.

A Changing Strategy for Caribbean Airlines

When Caribbean Airlines first launched its expanded network, it seemed poised to become the central carrier connecting various islands across the Caribbean region. However, as Caribbean Airlines evaluates market demand and realigns its strategy, the airline is opting to focus on high-demand routes to maintain its position as a major regional carrier.
This restructuring follows CAL’s earlier decision to cut services between Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica, and Fort Lauderdale in the United States, which underperformed commercially. This series of decisions underscores CAL’s shift from an expansive growth strategy to a more streamlined, sustainable model. By concentrating on routes with higher passenger demand, the airline hopes to ensure its long-term viability and avoid costly expansions in less profitable regions.

Looking Forward: Potential Impacts on Caribbean Travelers

The removal of these services from the CAL network will likely have a mixed effect on passengers and the tourism industry across the Caribbean. While there will certainly be more connections from Trinidad (the main hub), the airline’s consolidation efforts may complicate travel for those wishing to fly directly from Barbados or Puerto Rico to destinations across the region.
Tourism stakeholders in Barbados, San Juan, and Tortola will need to explore alternative solutions for air connectivity, potentially fostering partnerships with other airlines to mitigate the impact of these suspensions. Meanwhile, travelers should prepare for longer flight times and reconsider their travel plans when looking to book flights between certain Caribbean destinations.

Conclusion: Regional Air Travel in Flux

In conclusion, Caribbean Airlines’ strategic decision to suspend services to San Juan and Tortola, alongside its planned withdrawal from Barbados, represents a significant shift in the Caribbean’s air travel landscape. The airline’s network optimization strategy, which aims to streamline operations, may result in more efficient long-term operations but comes at the cost of short-term regional connectivity. Passengers are advised to keep abreast of updates and plan accordingly as the region’s largest airline undergoes these transformative changes.

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Tags: Barbados hub closure, CAL route optimisation, Caribbean air travel 2026, caribbean airlines, Caribbean connectivity

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