A new chapter in travel connectivity has begun with the launch of Frontier Airlines’ inaugural flight between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago. The first flight, departing from Piarco International Airport on Thursday, was fully booked and received a ceremonial water cannon salute upon departure.
At a media event held at Piarco International Airport on Thursday afternoon, Minister of Works and Transport Rohan Sinanan hailed this milestone as a significant achievement by the government in expanding access routes between Trinidad and Tobago and other destinations.
“This marks another achievement by our government as we aim to open up new access routes between Trinidad and Tobago and other destinations,” Sinanan stated. He extended gratitude to Independent Senator Anthony Vieira, Chairman of the Standing Negotiating Committee on Air Services Agreements (SNCASA), as well as Cabinet members, permanent secretaries, and others who contributed to this accomplishment.
Sinanan highlighted that over the past two years, the government has signed air service agreements with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar, and the Netherlands, among others. “That gives us access to a lot of other airlines and other countries…we now have agreements with several countries that we didn’t have before.”
In August, the Airports Authority of Trinidad and Tobago will host the CAPA Airline Leader Summit for the first time, a rare occurrence in the Caribbean. Sinanan also expressed hopes for Trinidad and Tobago to host the next Routes Americas conference, a significant event in the airline industry.
No competition
Addressing concerns about competition with Caribbean Airlines, which also offers a T&T-Puerto Rico route, Sinanan assured that it would not be an issue. “The way we look at it, airlines work together. We are open for business; CAL also flies to the US, and we have several other airlines that fly to and from the US here, so I’m sure CAL will do what it needs to do to survive.”
Sinanan also mentioned ongoing efforts to secure air service agreements for new routes to Ghana and Nigeria, establishing direct connections between Trinidad and Tobago and the African continent for the first time.
Jonathan Kaufman, Frontier Airlines’ Senior Director of Network Planning, emphasized the significance of the new route, launched during the summer peak, as a step toward connecting to the airline’s other US destinations and offering low-cost travel options for Americans to experience Trinidad and Tobago. “We’re excited and want to invest long-term in this partnership; with commercial success, we’ll continue to grow our service.”
Minister of Tourism, Culture, and the Arts, Randall Mitchell, highlighted the cultural benefits of the new route, which will add over 2,000 seats monthly between American markets and Trinidad and Tobago via Puerto Rico. “This expansion will profoundly impact our tourism sector, meaning an increase in convenient and frequent connections to our beautiful islands for travelers eager to experience our rich and unique cultural traditions.”
The new route, Frontier Airlines’ 12th Caribbean destination, will operate three times per week, providing a crucial link for cultural exchange and economic growth between Puerto Rico and Trinidad and Tobago.
