Caribbean Airlines will sell two of its five owned ATR aircraft by the end of the year as it seeks to cut costs, but chairman Reyna Kowlessar says the move is not linked to layoffs.
A disposal notice dated January 8 lists two 14-year-old ATR 72-600s—registered 9Y-TTB and 9Y-TTC—for sale on an “as is, where is” basis. The planned disposal dates are October 1 for 9Y-TTB and March 1 for 9Y-TTC, with bids due by February 6.
In a WhatsApp response to Guardian Media, Kowlessar said there are “absolutely no job cuts” planned and that staff have been included in consultations across departments.
The two aircraft were part of a 2011 order for nine ATRs intended to replace the airline’s Dash 8 fleet. Caribbean Airlines ultimately took delivery of five, paying about US$18.9 million each. The purchase—rather than leasing—drew criticism at the time for draining cash reserves.
As of 2026, the airline operates ten ATRs, five of them leased, added during a network and fleet expansion under its 2023–2027 strategic plan. While fuel-efficient, the ATRs carry high maintenance costs due to heavy utilisation, particularly on the airbridge, estimated at US$600–US$800 per flight hour.