Caribbean experts seek more airlift Juliet Dennis
Caribbean experts have urged airlines to increase capacity to the region next summer to enable it to better compete with Europe in the peak travel period. Calling the lack of airlift and cuts
to services a “constraint to growth”, they also flagged a lack of bedstock due to demand from the US market for short and weekend breaks. In a column in this week’s
Caribbean-themed issue of Travel Weekly, Caribtours managing director Paul Cleary called on regional tourism authorities to “make their case better”, saying: “The Caribbean needs to better compete with other regions to ensure it is sitting at the top table when UK airlines are deciding on routes.
British Airways and Virgin Atlantic have a long-standing commitment to the region, but there are times of year when destinations are short of good-quality airline capacity.” He said there was a “real
opportunity” for agents to switch-sell in the summer when Caribbean prices were around 40% less than during the region’s peak winter period. Blue Bay Travel chief commercial
officer Greg Armstrong said British Airways’ reduced schedule to Tobago “wasn’t helpful” and also flagged decreases in capacity to the Dominican Republic and Saint Lucia following the failure of Thomas Cook and cuts by Virgin and Tui. Capacity cuts had also pushed up
prices and led to clients picking the Indian Ocean over the Caribbean,
School terms ‘need reform after shifts in travel patterns’
Samantha Mayling
The UK Outbound Travel Group has issued a fresh plea for reform of the school calendar as more families seek shoulder-season holidays due to climate change. The lobbying group – which
includes bodies such as the Advantage Travel Partnership, InteleTravel and Aito, The Specialist Travel Association – is urging the Department for Education to work with travel industry representatives, teacher unions and parent groups to develop transition plans. In an opinion article published on
4 28 AUGUST 2025
travelweekly.co.uk, Julia Lo Bue-Said, Advantage chief executive and group spokesperson, said: “As temperatures soar in Mediterranean hotspots, we’re witnessing a fundamental shift in travel patterns. Data shows the first signs of growth in shoulder-season bookings, with families increasingly seeking cooler climates during what were once peak summer months.” She said destinations such as
Croatia, Cyprus and Egypt are experiencing rising demand in May and October, with bookings up by 30%-40% in some cases compared with pre-pandemic levels. “Many British families face an
SPECIAL EDITION
Holidays, in-house tour operator for Sandals and Beaches Resorts, said overall capacity was “sufficient” but agreed more year-round seats to popular destinations such as Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines would be helpful. Virgin Atlantic said it “continued
with a particular impact on the Dom Rep, he added. Barrhead Travel product and
commercial director Caroline Stobo highlighted regional airlift as a barrier for its Scottish business, saying: “If the regional airlift was more convenient, I believe we’d be able to unlock huge potential for more of the region across all seasons.” Karl Thompson, managing director at Unique Caribbean
Julia Lo Bue-Said
to explore opportunities in the Caribbean market” and was reinforcing its commitment to the Caribbean this winter with “significant capacity growth” on Barbados and Antigua routes. British Airways last week
confirmed an additional weekly service from Gatwick to Kingston, Jamaica, for next summer, when four
flights a week will operate. i Comment: Paul Cleary, page 14 i Destinations, pages 37-58
impossible choice: pay premium prices for crowded, uncomfortably hot destinations during the six-week summer break or remove children from school during term time and face potential rising fines,” she added. “Some regions have already
pioneered extending October half-term [from one] to two weeks while shortening summer holidays. “Academies, which represent
about 50% of schools, already have the flexibility to set their own holiday timetables. This means comprehensive reform wouldn’t require legislation affecting every school, although it may mean new
guidelines for academy schools.” She noted some hotels in
popular destinations charge double their off-peak rates in summer. “A more balanced redistribution
of school holidays could help smooth demand curves, alleviate pressure on overstretched travel infrastructure and create a more efficient tourism ecosystem,” she continued. “Travel during [shoulder seasons]
may also bring more-affordable opportunities for families. “It’s time for comprehensive
reform that puts families first and acknowledges the realities of climate change and modern travel patterns.”
travelweekly.co.uk
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