A distant paradise: Russia wants to launch direct flights to the Caribbean
In September, Russia plans to discuss the launch of flights with Barbados, and the Government of Guyana already has a draft agreement on direct flights. This was reported to "Izvestia" by Russian Ambassador Andrey Pritsepov, who represents Moscow's interests in a number of countries in the region. Other Caribbean countries are also showing interest in flights from Russia, but there is no steady tourist flow there yet. Expensive long-distance flights and difficulties with aircraft maintenance under sanctions call into question the payback of new routes. Therefore, agreements between states will not be enough: airlines and tour operators have yet to find a way to attract passengers and cover costs.
What is interesting about Barbados and neighboring countries?
On September 24, Russian Ambassador Andrey Pritsepov will hold a meeting with Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Amor Mottley, as well as with Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade Christopher Peter Sinclair. The Ambassador, in addition to this country, also represents the interests of the Russian Federation in Guyana, Grenada, the Republic of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
"The possibility of direct flights between Russia and Barbados will be discussed during the meeting," he told Izvestia.
The Ambassador also plans to raise this issue with the Minister of Tourism, Trade and Industry of Guyana, Susan Rodriguez.
— Currently, the draft agreement on direct flights to Guyana (the agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana on air services) is undergoing approval by the Government of the country. This usually takes a certain amount of time. So far, we have refrained from predicting the exact timing of the signing of this agreement, but we are keeping the issue under control," said Andrey Pritsepov.
On February 26, the Russian Ambassador met with Egbert Field, Director General of the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority.
— During the conversation, in particular, I stressed, and the interlocutor agreed with this, that the early establishment of direct flights is in the interests of both countries, — said Andrey Pritsepov. — Egbert Field promised to work on this issue further.
According to the Ambassador, Russia and the Cooperative Republic of Guyana, Barbados, Grenada, the Republic of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago have a common interest in establishing direct flights to promote tourism and business contacts. At the same time, the island states remain the most attractive from the point of view of travel — they are also informally called "resort areas," he said.
Barbados looks the most promising — it could become not only a vacation destination, but also a transfer point for traveling around the region, says Mikhail Abasov, director of VCP Travel. A direct flight from Russia with subsequent flights to neighboring islands would allow tourists to offer several destinations at once. However, this will require coordinating the schedule with local carriers.
Barbados receives hundreds of thousands of tourists every year. In 2025, about 707 thousand guests came to the island. More than three quarters of this flow came from the United States, Great Britain and Canada. Caribbean islands can attract tourists with their warm sea and beaches in the middle of the Russian winter. Relaxing by the water here can be combined with diving, hiking in the rainforest and trips to neighboring islands. Meanwhile, Guyana is a mainland country with an oil and gas and forestry economy, Abasov noted. Therefore, business trips should also be taken into account when assessing the future route. The expert also considers Trinidad and Tobago primarily as a business destination, since this island nation is considered one of the key players in the Caribbean energy market.
What prevents the launch of direct flights
Russians do not need a visa to stay in Barbados: without it, they can stay on the island for up to 30 days. In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the allowed time is up to 90 days within six months. You can also visit Guyana without a visa for up to 90 days. The same maximum period is provided for Russian tourists in Trinidad and Tobago, but the length of stay is determined upon entry.
"However, due to the lack of direct flights, it would be an exaggeration to say that these destinations are in high demand from Russian tourists," said Andrey Pritsepov.
At the same time, our carriers already have experience flying to the region: in different years, direct flights were operated, for example, to the Dominican Republic, Cancun, Mexico, Jamaica and the Venezuelan island of Margarita. The flow to Jamaica, where flights from Russia were previously operated, remains small. Currently, about 100 Russian tourists visit the island per year, the Russian Embassy in the country told "Izvestia". The diplomatic mission stressed that accurate calculations are difficult, and the visa-free regime was not discussed.
— Direct flights to Jamaica stopped back in the first half of the 1990s. Since then, if there have been flights from Russia to the island, then only charter flights, and those ended against the background of covid," the embassy added.
Stable and sufficient demand is needed to launch flights, and in both directions. Barbados and Guyana are not yet among the major destinations of Russian tourism. Direct flights could increase interest in them, but airlines need to assess demand before launching. A vicious circle arises: without a convenient flight, it is difficult to attract tourists, and without tourists, it is difficult to ensure the loading of the aircraft.
Flying across the Atlantic also requires significant costs. It requires a long-haul aircraft, the operation of which costs the carrier a decent amount. Russian carriers have such aircraft: the Boeing 777 has already been used for non-stop flights to Cuba. But the carrier needs to calculate the route bypassing the closed EU airspace, fuel consumption and permissible load. If you have to reduce the number of passengers or the volume of cargo for additional fuel, it will be more difficult to pay off the flight.
Added to these costs are the difficulties with insurance and maintenance due to sanctions. This is critical for a niche destination, as a more expensive ticket will scare away some of the already few tourists. The risk of the aircraft being detained abroad due to claims by foreign lessors cannot be excluded. However, it is still difficult to assess it: it is not known which boards can be put on new routes and whether disputes with the owners have been settled on them.
Tour operators will also have to invest in new destinations: find local partners, negotiate with hotels, arrange transfers and excursions. The hardest part is advertising: potential tourists need to explain why to choose Guyana or Barbados and what they pay for. If you need to buy some seats in advance to launch a flight, the companies will also take on the risk of unsold tickets.
You can start with flights to Barbados ordered by tour operators for 8-12 weeks in winter, Abasov believes. This would allow us to check the demand during the high season. If a steady flow of passengers appears in two or three seasons, it will be possible to switch to year-round scheduled flights, the expert believes.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
