Plane could be Air Caribbean

AN unclaimed YS-11 aircraft at Piarco International Airport could be the property of now defunct Air Caribbean. This airline was launched in 1993 and used YS-11 aircraft during the first five years of its operations. Air Caribbean included Boeing 737 aircraft to its fleet in July 1998. These aircraft proved to be financial burden on the airline.

Air Caribbean intended to use the 737s on flights to Miami International Airport, but the planes were too noisy for American noise regulations. In early 2000, Air Caribbean offered slashed air fares to Miami, in order to compete with now BWIA and American Airlines. In October of that year, Air Caribbean was closed down after the airline incurred massive debts. The former airline’s 737 planes were scrapped in the US. One YS-11 is reportedly still at Piarco, in an abandoned state.

On Tuesday, the Airports Authority said it it has been unable to date to identify the owner of the plane. This was why a public notice was issued about the aircraft. the YS-11 will be donated to the Chaguaramas Military and Aerospace Museum if it is not claimed or accrued storage fees for the plane are paid by July 9.