GREAT BAY--Regional air travel across the Caribbean is facing the prospect of further decline as high aviation taxes, airport charges, rising operating costs and infrastructure shortcomings continue to undermine connectivity between islands. The warning comes from aviation experts and tourism leaders who say the region must rethink how it supports air transportation if it intends to remain competitive and make travel between Caribbean destinations more accessible.
The concerns were raised during the Caribbean Tourism Organization's (CTO) 2026 State of the Tourism Industry Conference (SOTIC), held October 5 to 9 in Georgetown, Guyana, where tourism ministers, airline executives and industry specialists examined the challenges affecting Caribbean aviation.
Lee Lipton, Senior Vice President of Aviation Strategy at ASM Global Route Development, warned that his company's projections indicate that total airline seat capacity within the Caribbean is expected to continue declining.
His assessment highlighted a combination of international pressures and longstanding regional problems that have made it increasingly difficult for airlines to maintain or expand services connecting Caribbean destinations.
Among the international factors identified were high fuel prices, aircraft availability, supply chain disruptions, inflation and changes in passenger demand. However, Lipton emphasized that several challenges are rooted within the Caribbean itself, including high taxes on airline tickets, airport fees, regulatory restrictions, inefficient passenger processing and inadequate airport infrastructure.
These conditions make operating flights between neighboring islands more expensive and complicated, potentially discouraging airlines from introducing new routes or maintaining existing connections.
The warning is particularly relevant for St. Maarten, where Princess Juliana International Airport serves as an important aviation gateway to the northeastern Caribbean.
In addition to accommodating international flights from North America, Europe and other markets, the airport provides connections for travelers heading to neighboring destinations, including Saba, St. Eustatius, Anguilla and St. Barthélemy.
Any continued reduction in regional airline capacity could have implications for passenger movement through St. Maarten, tourism development, business travel and the island's wider role as a transportation hub.
For smaller Caribbean destinations that depend on connections through larger airports, reduced flight availability can make travel more complicated and expensive, particularly when passengers must make multiple connections to reach their final destinations.
The issue also affects Caribbean residents who frequently face high ticket prices when attempting to travel between islands that are geographically close to one another.
During the conference, Trevor Sadler, Chief Executive Officer of interCaribbean Airways, reinforced concerns about high aviation taxes and inadequate airport facilities.
He also pointed to restrictive airport operating hours and additional charges for flights arriving outside normal schedules as obstacles to developing more effective regional connections.
According to Sadler, such limitations can prevent airlines from properly connecting passengers arriving in the Caribbean on international flights from Europe, the United States and Canada.
The concerns highlight the need for Caribbean governments and airport authorities to examine whether existing operating arrangements are supporting regional connectivity or creating additional barriers for airlines.
Another proposal attracting attention at the conference came from Turks and Caicos Islands Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage and the Environment Zhavargo Jolly, who suggested that Caribbean governments consider establishing a new regional airline through a public-private partnership.
Jolly argued that Caribbean countries should take greater responsibility for addressing their transportation challenges rather than relying entirely on international airlines or external investors.
He suggested that the financial incentives, tax concessions and other benefits Caribbean governments currently provide to international carriers could form part of a collective approach to developing a regional airline.
The proposal remains an idea put forward during the tourism conference rather than an established or approved regional project. Nevertheless, it adds to ongoing discussions about whether Caribbean governments should take a more coordinated approach to aviation.
The challenge is not simply attracting more tourists from major international markets, but also ensuring that travelers can move efficiently and affordably between destinations within the region.
That issue has particular importance for the Caribbean's smaller economies, where tourism, commerce, education, family connections and employment opportunities often depend on reliable transportation links with neighboring islands.
While Caribbean tourism continues to attract international visitors, the performance of regional aviation presents a separate challenge.
According to figures presented by CTO Director of Research Aliyyah Shakeer, the Caribbean welcomed approximately 18.9 million overnight visitors during the first six months of 2026. However, that overall visitor activity does not eliminate the operational and financial difficulties facing airlines providing transportation between Caribbean destinations.
For St. Maarten, the regional discussion raises questions about how Princess Juliana International Airport and the country's aviation stakeholders can strengthen the island's position as a regional hub while supporting more reliable and affordable connections.
It also places attention on the wider relationship between airport charges, government taxation, airline operating costs and the economic benefits that regional air services provide.
The warnings delivered in Guyana underscore a growing concern among Caribbean tourism leaders that the region's air transportation challenges cannot be addressed by individual airlines alone.
Without coordinated action involving governments, airport operators, regulators and airlines, the Caribbean risks continued reductions in regional flight capacity at a time when stronger connectivity is needed to support tourism growth and regional economic cooperation.
