Senior Reporter
Transport and Civil Aviation Minister Eli Zakour has signalled a renewed focus on accountability and performance at Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL), following the airline’s formal reassignment to his ministry.
“My priority is to address the airline’s financial challenges, strengthen operational efficiency and improve service delivery to the travelling public, while strengthening the airline’s role in national, regional, and international connectivity,” Zakour said in response to questions from Guardian Media yesterday.
The statement comes after a legal notice issued by the Office of the President confirmed that Zakour had assumed responsibility for CAL with effect from April 2, 2026.
Addressing how he plans to handle his new portfolio, Zakour said transparency at the airline will be critical.
“There must be a clear focus on accountability as we work collectively to enhance performance and position Caribbean Airlines for sustainable growth. I look forward to working closely with the board as we move forward,” he said.
The move marks a significant shift in oversight of the State-owned carrier, which had long been under the Ministry of Finance.
Responsibility has now been removed from Finance Minister Davendranath Tancoo, ending an administrative arrangement that spanned multiple administrations, including prior to 2015.
The reassignment was made under Section 79(1) of the Constitution, with President Christine Kangaloo acting on the advice of Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar.
The transition has raised questions about the Government’s broader strategy for the national carrier, particularly given CAL’s ongoing financial difficulties and reliance on State support.
Sources familiar with the arrangement say the airline’s long-standing placement under the Ministry of Finance was largely due to its heavy funding requirements. The Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation has traditionally required financial coordination to support an entity of CAL’s scale.
Contacted on the shift yesterday, Tancoo said, “The movement of CAL to the Ministry of Transport is a logical and practical one. The Ministry of Transport already has responsibility for all aviation matters, including Civil Aviation Authority and National Helicopters, so the CAL has been more appropriately placed in the industry-related ministry.”
The change in ministerial responsibility comes at a time when Caribbean Airlines continues to face significant financial headwinds.
These include volatile fuel prices due to the war in the Middle East, stiff competition across regional routes, and the lingering effects of pandemic-era losses.
Operational concerns have also been a point of contention.
In August last year, Persad-Bissessar issued a blunt warning to CAL’s management to “sort out the mess” within two years or risk losing their jobs. She criticised the airline for spending approximately $60 million on audits by Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) despite maintaining a sizeable internal finance team, as well as for failing to produce audited financial statements and continuing to operate unprofitable routes.
Adding to the pressure, Guardian Media’s investigative desk recently reported that since CAL’s 2011 acquisition of Air Jamaica, the airline has incurred losses exceeding TT$1.7 billion (US$255 million) tied to that operation.
