Caribbean Airlines to cut Florida–Jamaica flights in November

Caribbean Airlines will discontinue its Fort Lauderdale to Montego Bay and Fort Lauderdale to Kingston routes effective November 2, 2025, just a few months after resuming the service following a five-year hiatus.

The airline explained that the suspension is part of its ongoing network optimisation programme, which it says requires continuous evaluation of routes to guarantee sustainability and efficiency. “This decision is a strategic step to ensure the continued viability of Caribbean Airlines’ operations in the face of evolving market conditions,” the company said in a statement.

The move comes less than a year after the airline relaunched the Montego Bay–Fort Lauderdale route in December 2024 and expanded it to daily service in March of this year. The Kingston–Fort Lauderdale service, which had been dropped in 2019, was also reinstated earlier in 2025.

Despite those efforts, performance on the routes lagged behind expectations. Reports indicate that in May, load factors for flights between Kingston and Fort Lauderdale fell to just 32 per cent, far below sustainable levels.

Caribbean Airlines has stressed that the suspension will allow it to reallocate aircraft and crew to stronger markets. Industry observers note that low passenger demand, rising operating costs, and heavy competition from JetBlue, Spirit and American Airlines in South Florida left the Trinidad-based carrier struggling to hold its share of the Jamaica–Fort Lauderdale corridor.

The decision also reflects wider pressure on Caribbean Airlines to demonstrate profitability after years of financial challenges. By pulling out of underperforming routes, the company is attempting to improve efficiency and align its network with markets that offer higher yields.

Passengers who are booked to travel after November 1 will be eligible for refunds or travel credits. However, the move leaves the large Jamaican diaspora in South Florida with fewer direct options to both Kingston and Montego Bay. Tourism stakeholders are also closely watching to see whether the loss of Caribbean Airlines’ service will affect arrivals from one of Jamaica’s most important diaspora markets.

While the airline has not ruled out a return to the Fort Lauderdale–Jamaica routes, officials maintain that priority must be given to services that contribute positively to the carrier’s overall network performance.

- Janet Silvera

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