John McCarthy
COCKBURN TOWN — The U.S. Virgin Islands will soon have new travel options within the Caribbean as Turks and Caicos-based interCaribbean Airways is planning to add St. Croix and St. Thomas to its roster of destinations within three to six months, according to a press release.
The airline had modest beginnings. Chairman Lyndon R. Gardiner purchased his first plane in 1991 and started providing an informal but popular on-demand air taxi service with his company InterIsland Airways. By 1999, he had acquired a small fleet and was running a full-fledged charter service.
In 2003, as the Turks and Caicos government focused on regional and international development, Gardiner was granted a scheduled license and began an expansion project that involved adding international destinations and acquiring larger and faster aircraft. The company rebranded to become Air Turks & Caicos to serve key international destinations, with daily scheduled flights to cities in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Bahamas and Puerto Rico.
After operating for 10 years as Air Turks & Caicos, the company rebranded as interCaribbean Airways to embrace new opportunities across the Caribbean. Several island destinations have been added to the schedule, including St. Lucia, Dominica, Tortola and others. The airline operates a fleet of EMB120, Twin Otter and Beech 99 aircraft that carry up to 30 passengers.
