Caribbean airlines bag World Cup contract

The major airlines based in the Caribbean have landed a major contract for the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC) to be played in the region. The consortium of Caribbean Star, BWIA West Indies Airlines, LIAT and Air Jamaica have been awarded the contract to be the official carrier during the March 5 to April 28 event.

Stephen Price, the tournament's commercial manager, made the announcement late on Wednesday after a series of high-level meetings at the Royal Antigua Hotel. He said, "I can announce that we contracted the Caribbean consortium of airlines to be the official carrier for the teams, VIPs, media, sponsors and officials during the duration of the tournament.

"They will provide chartered airlift. It's a humongous achievement and it shows there is faith in the regional air carriers. It will link all the carriers of the region under one roof. It says a lot too about the steps they are willing to take in terms of ensuring that the transportation for the tournament is successful."

Price was among several executives from the regional and international travel industry who joined officials from the World Cup, customs, immigration, security, land and air traffic management, visitor experience, and logistics in trying to come up with a framework to ease worries over airlift and congestion for the tournament.