Following the passage of Hurricane Beryl, the domestic fights of Caribbean Airlines (CAL) resumed yesterday, with the first flight (BW 3518) departing Trinidad at 5 pm and arrive in Tobago at 5:35 pm. The first flight from Tobago (BW 3523) was set to leave Tobago at 6:15 pm.
The island did not operate any flights between 9pm on Sunday night and 5pm yesterday "due to the adverse weather conditions" as a result of the Hurricane Beryl, according to news releases from the national air carrier.
In a news release, CAL issued the times for 16 flights to Tobago between 5pm and 10:15pm. The same number of flights were expected to leave Tobago between 6:15 pm and 11:15 pm.
The airline said priority would be given to confirmed and ticket passengers and people whose flights were cancelled yesterday will also be accommodated on those flights. CAL added that stand-by travellers will be accommodated as far as resources permit.
"Please cooperate with our airport team as they manage the flow of customers," the airline added.
Earlier yesterday, Works and Transport Minister Rohan Sinanan did not anticipate the ANR Robinson International Airport would reopen.
He said there were inspections on the ground in Tobago to ensure that the airport was not affected in any way. They were also waiting for the wind to regularise before operations were started.
“The airport will be ready in Trinidad. Our staff both at the airport and at the port are out. However, again, we have to wait for the wind gusts to settle,” he said.
Sinanan said the sea conditions were very rough and the captains decided that it was not safe to sail any of the vessels that traverse the seabridge.
He did not anticipate that there would be any sailings yesterday due to sea conditions. He added that at the international terminal, they have a similar challenge because the Pilot’s Association has indicated that it was not safe to bring in international cargo vessels at this time.