View source for Air Caraïbes

{{Short description|French Caribbean regional airline}}
{{distinguish|AerCaribe|Caribbean Airlines}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox airline
| airline = Air Caraïbes
| logo = Air Caraibes 2019 logo.svg
| logo_size = 
| image = Air Caraïbes Atlantique, Airbus A350-941, F-HNET.jpg
| fleet_size = 14
| destinations = [[List of Air Caraïbes destinations|10]]
| caption = Air Caraïbes Atlantique [[Airbus A350-900]] approaching [[Paris Charles de Gaulle]]
| IATA = TX
| ICAO = FWI
| callsign = FRENCH WEST
| parent = [[Groupe Dubreuil]]
| founded = {{start date and age|1969|||df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as ''Société Antillaise de Transport Aérien'')}}<ref name="NAAH">{{cite book|last=Norwood|first=Tom|author2=Wegg, John|title=North American Airlines Handbook|publisher=Airways International|location=Sandpoint, ID|year=2002|edition=3rd|isbn=0-9653993-8-9|url=http://www.airwaysnews.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161128070750/http://airwaysnews.com/|archive-date=2016-11-28}}</ref>
| commenced = {{start date and age|2000|07||df=yes}}<br />{{small|(as ''Air Caraïbes'')}}<ref name="NAAH"/>
| headquarters = [[Les Abymes, Guadeloupe|Les Abymes]], [[Guadeloupe]], France<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.aircaraibes.com/en/legal-notices|title=Legal Notices|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref>
| key_people =  {{unbulleted list|Eric Michel ([[Chair (officer)|Chairman]])<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.groupedubreuil.com/gouvernance|title=Gouvernance|trans-title=Governance|language=FR|work=[[Groupe Dubreuil]]|access-date=18 June 2025}}</ref>
|Muriel Assouline ([[Chair (officer)|Chairwoman]])}}
| hubs = {{ubl|class=nowrap
  | [[Orly Airport|Paris–Orly]]
  | [[Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport|Pointe-à-Pitre]]}}
| secondary_hubs = 
| focus_cities = {{nowrap|[[Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport|Fort-de-France]]}}
| frequent_flyer = Preference
| alliance = 
| subsidiaries = Air Caraïbes Atlantique
| website = {{URL|www.aircaraibes.com}}
| aoc = 
| num_employees = 1,144 (2021)<ref name="figures"/>
}}

'''Air Caraïbes''' ({{IPA|fr|kaʁaib}}) is a [[French West Indies|French West Indian]] airline, with its headquarters in [[Les Abymes]], [[Guadeloupe]]. The airline's main base of operations is at [[Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport]] in Guadeloupe, with a focus city at [[Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport]], near [[Fort-de-France]] in [[Martinique]]. It operates scheduled and charter services in the West Indies, as well as transatlantic flights to and from [[Orly Airport|Paris Orly Airport]] in [[Metropolitan France]].

==History==
The airline was originally established as '''Société Caribéenne de Transports Aériens''', and started operations in September 1994. In 2000, [[Air Guadeloupe]] was acquired by [[Groupe Dubreuil]], which had previously established Air Vendée before the airline was acquired by [[Air France]], rebranding it as [[Regional Airlines (France)|Regional Airlines]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.aircaraibes.com/en/our-company/a-dubreuil-group-company|title=A Dubreuil Group company|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=13 September 2020|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110165949/https://en.aircaraibes.com/en/our-company/a-dubreuil-group-company|url-status=dead}}</ref> The current Air Caraïbes was founded in July 2000 through the merger of various local airlines [[Air Guadeloupe]], [[Air Martinique]], Air Saint Barthélémy, and Air Saint Martin, and was created in response to the air transport needs of the French Caribbean territories. In 2002, the company flew 445,000 passengers and had €68 million in revenues.

In July 2003, the airline received its first [[ATR 72-500]].<ref name="figures"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.flightglobal.com/elegance-a-touch-of-class-from-air-caraibes-/48806.article|url-access=registration|title=Elegance: a touch of class from Air Caraibes|website=[[FlightGlobal]]|publisher=DVV Media International Limited|date=14 June 2003|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> On 12 December 2003, the airline began services to [[Orly Airport]] from Guadeloupe and Martinique using an [[Airbus A330-200]].<ref name="figures"/> The transatlantic services were operated under a franchise agreement by '''Air Caraïbes Atlantique''', a jointly run subsidiary airline of [[Groupe Dubreuil]], which was registered in Martinique with its own [[air operator's certificate]], using an [[ICAO airline designator]] of "CAJ" and callsign of "CAR LINE".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://entreprises.lefigaro.fr/aeroport-de-fort-de-france-972/entreprise-450314802|title=Enterprise Air Caraibes Atlantique au Lamentin (97232)|trans-title=Company Air Caraibes Atlantique in Lamentin (97232)|language=FR|website=[[Le Figaro]]|date=10 September 2020|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://airportdatabase.net/france/air-caraibes-atlantique-airline_A745.html|title=Air Caraibes Atlantique code and information|website=AirportDatabase.net|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="aceta"/> Its operations were further integrated with and operated under the [[airline codes]] of Air Caraïbes at a later date. In June 2006, Air Caraïbes expanded its [[Airbus A330]] fleet in receiving its first Airbus A330-300, and also planned to receive another A330-300 to replace one of its A330s.<ref>{{cite press release|url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2006/07/air-carabes-signs-for-an-additional-a330-300.html|title=Air Caraïbes signs for an additional A330-300|publisher=Airbus S.A.S.|date=18 July 2006|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> Air Caraïbes sold one of its Airbus A330-200s to the [[French Air and Space Force|French Air Force]], where it was re-registered and became one of the [[Cotam 001|French presidential planes]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=INFO LE POINT.FR : Le premier palais volant de Nicolas Sarkozy livré vendredi à Villacoublay, actualité Défense ouverte : Le Point |url=https://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/index2.php?url=http://www.lepoint.fr/actualites-monde/2009-07-01/luxe-et-volupte-info-le-point-fr-le-premier-palais-volant-de-nicolas-sarkozy/1648/0/357364#federation=archive.wikiwix.com&tab=url |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=archive.wikiwix.com}}</ref>

On 13 December 2013, Air Caraïbes announced it had ordered the [[Airbus A350]], with a fleet of three A350-900s and three A350-1000s, the first of which were expected to be delivered in 2016 and 2020 respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.businesstravel.fr/air-caraib2-premiers-vols-en-a350-en-2016-2017.html|title=Air Caraïbes: premiers vols en A350 en 2016-2017|trans-title=Air Caraïbes: first A350 flights in 2016-2017|last=Coffre|first=Alain|language=FR|website=Business Traveller France|access-date=2013-12-12|date=2013-12-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220063151/http://www.businesstravel.fr/air-caraib2-premiers-vols-en-a350-en-2016-2017.html|archive-date=2014-02-20}}</ref> On 14 December 2016, the airline received its first [[ATR 72-600]].<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.atraircraft.com/newsroom/pressrelease/air-caraibes-takes-delivery-of-its-first-atr-72-600-1423-en.html|title=Air Caraïbes takes delivery of its first ATR 72-600|publisher=ATR, Avions de Transport Régional|date=14 December 2016|access-date=13 September 2020}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> The airline received its first A350-900 on 28 February 2017, and its first A350-1000 on 19 December 2019.<ref name="A359">{{cite press release|url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2017/02/air-carabes-takes-delivery-of-its-first-a350-900-opening-up-a-new-era-in-air-transport-to-the-french-caribbean.html|title=Air Caraïbes takes delivery of its first A350-900, opening up a new era in air transport to the French Caribbean|publisher=Airbus S.A.S.|date=28 February 2017|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref><ref name="A35K">{{cite press release|url=https://www.airbus.com/newsroom/press-releases/en/2019/12/first-airbus-a3501000-joins-air-caraibes-fleet.html|title=First Airbus A350-1000 joins Air Caraïbes' fleet|publisher=Airbus S.A.S.|date=19 December 2019|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> However prior to the delivery of some of the airline's A350s, parent company Groupe Dubreuil allocated some to sister airline [[French Bee]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/services/transport-logistique/la-low-cost-long-courrier-french-blue-fait-des-vagues-chez-air-caraibes-557246.html|title=La low-cost long-courrier French Blue fait des vagues chez Air Caraïbes|trans-title=The low-cost long-haul carrier French Blue is making waves with Air Caraïbes|language=FR|last=Gliszczynski|first=Fabrice|website=La Tribune|date=16 March 2016|access-date=15 August 2020}}</ref> before ordering additional A350s for both airlines by June 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://newsroom.aviator.aero/air-lease-corporation-announces-lease-placement-of-three-new-airbus-a350-900-and-one-new-airbus-a350-1000-aircraft-with-air-caraibes-and-frenchbee/|title=Air Lease Corporation Announces Lease Placement of Three New Airbus A350-900 and One New Airbus A350-1000 Aircraft with Air Caraïbes and FrenchBee|website=Aviator.aero|date=16 June 2019|access-date=3 April 2022}}</ref>

In 2024, the airline announced further fleet expansion plans with one A350-1000 and two ATR 72-600s to be delivered later in the year.<ref name="ATR-2024">{{cite web|url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/air-caraibes-add-two-atrs-strengthen-regional-fleet|title=Air Caraibes To Add Two ATRs To Strengthen Regional Fleet|last=Massy-Beresford|first=Helen|work=Aviation Week Network|publisher=Informa Markets|date=2 May 2024|access-date=5 October 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name="A350-2024">{{cite web|url=https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/air-caraibes-explores-expanding-long-haul-fleet-regional-flying|title=Air Caraïbes Explores Expanding Long-Haul Fleet, Regional Flying|last=Massy-Beresford|first=Helen|work=Aviation Week Network|publisher=Informa Markets|date=10 July 2024|access-date=5 October 2024|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Corporate affairs==
Air Caraïbes is owned by [[Groupe Dubreuil]] (85%) and had 1,105 employees as of 2019.<ref name="figures">{{cite web|url=https://www.aircaraibes.com/la-compagnie/air-caraibes-en-chiffres|title=Air Caraïbes en chiffres|trans-title=Air Caraïbes in figures|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref> Air Caraïbes uses [[Travel Technology Interactive]]'s airline management system, Aeropack.

==Destinations==
{{Main|List of Air Caraïbes destinations}}
Air Caraïbes operates both a regional network in the [[West Indies]], and a transatlantic long-haul network based at [[Orly Airport|Paris Orly Airport]] in France.<ref name="dest">{{cite web|url=https://en.aircaraibes.com/en/destination-map|title=Destination Map|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref>

===Codeshare agreements===
Air Caraïbes has [[codeshare agreement]]s with the following airlines:<ref name="cs">{{cite web|url=https://www.aircaraibes.com/la-compagnie/code-share|title=Nos accords aériens|trans-title=Our air agreements|language=FR|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=14 September 2020}}</ref>
{{div col}}
*[[Air Corsica]]
*[[Caribbean Airlines]]<ref>https://guyanachronicle.com/2025/09/23/caribbean-airlines-air-caraibes-ink-codeshare-agreement-to-boost-caribbean-france-connectivity/</ref>
*[[Chalair Aviation]]
*[[Cubana de Aviación]]<ref name="CAPA Cubana profile">{{cite web|url= http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/cubana-de-aviacion-cu|title= Profile on Cubana de Aviacion|website= CAPA Centre for Aviation|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170413124623/https://centreforaviation.com/profiles/airlines/cubana-de-aviacion-cu|archive-date= 13 April 2017|url-status= live}}</ref>
*[[French Bee]]
*[[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]]
*[[ITA Airways]]
*[[Sky High Aviation Services]]
*[[St Barth Commuter]]
*[[Sunrise Airways]]
*[[Winair]]
{{div col end}}

The airline also codeshares with the [[SNCF]], the French national railway operator.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aircaraibes.com/offres-tarifs/train-air-inter-iles/offre-train-air|title=L'offre Train + Air|trans-title=Train + Air offer|language=FR|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=14 September 2020|archive-date=23 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923101022/https://www.aircaraibes.com/offres-tarifs/train-air-inter-iles/offre-train-air|url-status=dead}}</ref> Previously, Air Caraïbes also had codeshare agreements with [[Aigle Azur]] until the airline ceased operations in September 2019, and with [[Corsair International]] until 26 October 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://espaceperso.aircaraibes.com/la-compagnie/code-share|title=Partenariat aérien|trans-title=Airline partnership|language=FR|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=14 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200914045221/https://espaceperso.aircaraibes.com/la-compagnie/code-share|archive-date=14 September 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.air-journal.fr/2019-07-27-air-caraibes-et-corsair-arretent-leur-partage-de-codes-sur-les-antilles-5214007.html|title=Air Caraïbes et Corsair arrêtent leur partage de codes sur les Antilles|trans-title=Air Caraïbes and Corsair end their codesharing to the Antilles|language=FR|last=Fabi|first=Serge|date=27 July 2019|access-date=14 September 2020}}</ref>

==Fleet==
[[File:Airbus A330-200 Air Caraïbes (FWI) F-OPTP - MSN 240 - Now in French Air Force as F-RARF (2949184947).jpg|thumb|Air Caraïbes [[Airbus A330-200]] in the previous livery]]
[[File:Air Caraïbes Atlantique, Airbus A350-941, F-HNET.jpg|thumb|Air Caraïbes [[Airbus A350-900]] in the current livery]]

===Current fleet===
{{As of|2025|8}}, Air Caraïbes operates the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Global Airline Guide 2025 - Air Caraïbes |magazine=Airliner World |date=September 2025 |page=59}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aircaraibes.com/la-compagnie/la-flotte|title=La Flotte|trans-title=The fleet|language=FR|website=Air Caraïbes|access-date=13 September 2020}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+Air Caraïbes fleet
|- 
!rowspan=2 |Aircraft
!rowspan=2 |In<br />service
!rowspan=2 |Orders
!colspan=4 |Passengers
!rowspan=2 |Notes
|-
!<abbr title="Madras">J</abbr>
!<abbr title="Caraïbes">W</abbr>
!<abbr title="Soleil">Y</abbr>
!Total
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|1
|&mdash;
|12
|24
|267
|303
|
|-
|[[Airbus A330-300]]
|2
|&mdash;
|12
|35
|307
|354
|
|-
|[[Airbus A350-900]]
|3
|&mdash;
|18
|45
|326
|389
|
|-
|rowspan=2|[[Airbus A350-1000]]
|rowspan=2|4
|rowspan=2|&mdash;
|24
|45
|360
|429
|rowspan=2|
|-
|&mdash;
|40
|440
|480
|-
|[[ATR 72-600]]
|4
|1
|&mdash;
|&mdash;
|74
|74
|
|-
!Total
!14
!1
! colspan="5" |
|}

===Former fleet===
[[File:ATR ATR-72-500 (ATR-72-212A), Air Caraibes AN2096232.jpg|thumb|A former Air Caraïbes [[ATR 72-500]]]]
[[File:283ce - Air Caraibes Dornier 228-212, F-OGVE@SXM,05.03.2004 - Flickr - Aero Icarus.jpg|thumb|A former [[Dornier 228]] in Air Caraïbes livery]]
Air Caraïbes and its franchised partners have operated the following aircraft types. It does not include aircraft types that were retired by its predecessor airlines prior to being merged to form Air Caraïbes.<ref>North American Airlines Handbook published by Airways International Inc 1997</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:0.5em auto; text-align:center"
|+ Air Caraïbes former fleet
|-
!Aircraft
!Total
!Introduced
!Retired
!Notes
|-
|[[Airbus A330-200]]
|1
|2003
|2009
|Sold to [[French Air and Space Force|French Air Force]].
|-
|[[ATR 42-300]]
|2
|1986
|1999
|
|-
|[[ATR 42-500]]
|2
|1997
|2007
|
|-
|[[ATR 72-200]]
|2
|2000
|2004
|
|-
|[[ATR 72-500]]
|4
|2000
|2020
|
|-
|[[Boeing 737-300]]
|1
|2000
|2001
|Leased from [[Islandsflug]].
|-
|[[Cessna 208 Caravan]]
|5
|{{unknown}}
|{{unknown}}
|Operated by ''Air Caraïbes Express.''<ref name="aceta">{{cite web|url=https://www.routesonline.com/airlines/2736/air-caraibes-sa/|title=Air Caraibes S.a.|website=Routesonline|publisher=Informa Markets|access-date=15 September 2020}}</ref>
|-
|[[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter]]
|3
|{{unknown}}
|{{unknown}}
|One crashed as [[Air Caraïbes Flight 1501|Flight 1501]].
|-
|[[Dornier 228]]
|2
|{{unknown}}
|{{unknown}}
|Operated by ''Air Caraïbes Express'' and [[Take Air]].<ref name="aceta"/>
|-
|[[Embraer ERJ-145]]
|2
|2000
|2008
|
|-
|[[Embraer ERJ-175]]
|1
|2006
|2008
|
|-
|[[Embraer ERJ-190]]
|1
|2007
|2013
|
|}

==Accidents and incidents==
*On 24 March 2001, [[Air Caraïbes Flight 1501]] crashed into a house while on approach to [[Gustaf III Airport]] in Saint Barthélemy with 17 passengers and 2 crew members. All occupants were killed. One person on the ground was killed in the subsequent fire. The investigation concluded that the crash was caused by the pilot's error in managing the thrust lever. The report blamed the crew for accidentally entering the thrust into BETA range.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bea-fr.org/docspa/2001/f-es010324a/pdf/f-es010324a.pdf|title=bea-fr.org|access-date=2014-11-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141120220443/http://www.bea-fr.org/docspa/2001/f-es010324a/pdf/f-es010324a.pdf|archive-date=2014-11-20 }}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of airlines of France]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline}}
*[https://en.aircaraibes.com/en Official website]
*[https://www.aircaraibes.com/ Official website] {{in lang|fr}}

{{Portal bar|France|Caribbean|Aviation}}
{{Navbox Airlines of France}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Air Caraibes}}
[[Category:Air Caraïbes]]
[[Category:Airlines of France]]
[[Category:Airlines of Guadeloupe]]
[[Category:Airlines established in 2000]]
[[Category:French brands]]
[[Category:French companies established in 2000]]