| History: |
British West Indian Airways (BWIA)
was established on November 27, 1940 and operations started with a
Lockheed Lodestar twin on daily services between Trinidad and Barbados.
In 1947 BWIA was taken over by British South American Airways (BSAA),
but the name BWIA was retained for operating routes among the Caribbean
Islands. In 1949 BSAA merged with British Overseas Airways Corporation
and BWIA became a subsidiary of BOAC. Vickers Viscounts were introduced
in 1955 with Bristol Britannias leased in 1960 to fly the long-haul
route to London, via New York City. One year later the government of
Trinidad and Tobago acquired most of the shares in the airline, and
achieved complete ownership by 1967. For BWIA the jet age began in 1967
with the introduction of B727s, which replaced the Viscount turboprops
and on the New York route. BWIA became BWIA International in 1980 after
a merger with Trinidad and Tobago Air Services (which had been formed by
the government in June 1974), becoming the national airline. By 1994 the
airline had become partially privatized and a reduction in its route
network left London and Frankfurt the only European destinations. On
February 22, 1995, the privatization of BWIA was completed.
In the early 2000s BWIA changed its livery to a new colorful Caribbean
green/blue color with its famous steelpan trademark, the national
musical instrument of Trinidad and Tobago. The fleet has been upgraded
to seven Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, two Airbus A340-300s,
and two Bombardier De Havilland Q300 Dash 8s used by BWIA's sister
airline Tobago Express, which provides service to Trinidad's sister
island Tobago. Despite several restructurings, BWIA operated at a loss
for many years and required injections of funds from the government of
Trinidad and Tobago to remain in operations. On December 31, 2006, BWIA
ceased operations and was re-born on January 1, 2007 as Caribbean
Airlines. |
