--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Background Information on Caribbean Airlines (CAL)

Caribbean Airlines (CAL) began operations on January 1, 2007, becoming the National carrier of Trinidad and Tobago and replacing its predecessor, British West Indies Airways (BWIA). In 2006, after failed negotiations between the unions and management of British West Indies Airways, Peter Davies the then CEO made recommendations to the government that BWIA be shut down. The announcement was made on the 8th of September, 2006 that BWIA would be shut down in preparation for the incorporation of Caribbean Airlines. (Karp, 2006)
In preparation for the operation of Caribbean Airlines, BWIA cut routes such as Manchester and Heathrow in the Unites Kingdom, New York City and Toronto. It also reduced its fleet to six Boeing 737-800 aircraft and reduced its staff to eight hundred. Caribbean Airlines was initially funded with capital gained from the closing and settling of BWIA’s operations. Its first routes were the remaining flights of BWIA. The majority of staff remaining from BWIA was also employed to CAL. (Caribbean Airlines, 2012) Caribbean Airlines flies from the Caribbean to the United States, Canada, South America and Europe; with its headquarters being in Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago. It remains one of the few airlines to offer complimentary refreshments and two unchecked bags. Major competitors at the onset were LIAT, Air Jamaica and Cayman Airways from the Caribbean Islands in addition to American Airlines, Air Canada, US Airways and British Airways which serviced some routes to which Caribbean Airlines did not operate. Caribbean Airlines however, established a codeshare with British Airways to facilitate flights to London and beyond. (Caribbean Airlines, 2012) On October 1, 2007,