IATA warning to the Caribbean: high airfares could scare off tourists

25-09-22

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has warned Caribbean destinations about the high airfares that are driving up airfares. "They risk losing out on the global travel and tourism market," it warns.

"We understand that the provision of adequate aviation infrastructure has a cost, but very often it is difficult to see the correlation between the level of costs and charges and the actual service provided," said Peter Cerdá, IATA's vice president for the Americas.

"By way of comparison, worldwide taxes and fees account for approximately 15% of the ticket price and in the Caribbean the average is double that, approximately 30% of the ticket price," Cerdá insisted, adding that in some destinations taxes, fees and charges account for half of the total ticket price.

"Today's passengers can choose [a holiday destination] and, as the total cost of a holiday becomes more and more a factor in the decision, governments must be prudent and not intervene in the market price," Cerdá said.