A war far away, a ticket price here

Days after launching five new nonstop routes out of Barbados, interCaribbean Airways is navigating a surge in global fuel prices after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. We sat down with Chairman Dr Lyndon Gardiner to understand what that means for Caribbean travel.

You launched five new routes out of Barbados just days ago. Then the world changed. How are you reading the situation?

It’s extraordinary timing, frankly. But I’ll tell you what hasn’t shifted – the need for Caribbean people to move. A mother in Trinidad still needs to get to Barbados. A businessperson in Guyana still needs to reach Kingston. Our job is to be there for it.

Dr Lyndon Gardiner,
Founder & Chairman of interCaribbean Airways

For people outside the aviation business, what does a fuel price spike actually mean for an airline like interCaribbean?

Fuel is our single largest operating cost, often over a third of total expenses. When prices move sharply, and we’re talking about jet fuel up more than 40 per cent since January, every flight costs more to operate. That pressure falls on every airline in the world.

But the Caribbean feels it differently.

We operate across 24 destinations, and nearly all of our fuel is imported. When global supply tightens, we feel it immediately, before the large carriers, before hedging strategies kick in. At each station, fuel is shipped in, stored, and uplifted locally. The logistics add cost before you even start the engine.

Are passengers going to see higher fares?

interCaribbean’s position has always been that regional travel must remain accessible. We don’t use surge pricing. Your ticket doesn’t rise when demand spikes. What you see is what you pay.

We also include one free bag. For a family traveling between islands, carrying food, carrying goods, carrying life. That matters. We understand what regional travel actually is for Caribbean people. It is not a luxury. It is how families stay connected and how business gets done across this sea.

Could there be industry-wide adjustments to fuel surcharges? Yes, and that is happening globally. But our commitment is to absorb what we can and to be transparent when we cannot.

Tell us about the Barbados expansion. What does it mean for the region?

Bridgetown is a natural hub, at the intersection of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, with the infrastructure to support serious connectivity. The routes we launched this month connect Barbados directly to Port of Spain, Sint Maarten, Tortola and Georgetown.

Caribbean people should not have to route through Miami or London to reach each other.

That’s what we’re building.

Dr Lyndon Gardiner,
Founder & Chairman of interCaribbean Airways

What’s your message to Caribbean travelers right now?

Travel. Don’t let uncertainty stop you from moving.

This region has been through worse. When COVID shut down global aviation, interCaribbean kept flying. When hurricanes hit, we were back in the air before the roads were cleared. Caribbean people are resilient by nature. We don’t have the luxury of stopping.

The world will keep shifting. That’s not new. What matters is whether this region can still move. We’re here to make sure it can.

interCaribbean Airways operates scheduled services across 18 countries and territories and 24 destinations in the Caribbean. The airline launched three new nonstop routes from Grantley Adams International Airport, Barbados, on March 8-9, 2026.