The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank published a new episode of its ECCB Connects series featuring Dr. Dennis Mc Call, a senior aviation academic and air transport and sustainability specialist, who reviewed persistent weaknesses in Caribbean aviation. Drawing on his latest research, he said the region has continued for two decades to face high costs, delayed travel and a lack of specialized training, with travel affordability now the most urgent issue. Mc Call said a study found that the Caribbean has the highest travel costs in the world because of taxes, fees and charges. In discussing the proposed regional airline OECS Air, he argued that a hands-off approach by governments and an independent governing body would improve the chances of delivering cheaper regional air travel. He also pointed to sustainable aviation, broader transportation reform, innovation and digital integration as priorities to support smoother regional travel, trade and logistics.
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank2026-07-23
Eastern Caribbean Central Bank podcast features aviation expert on high Caribbean travel costs and OECS Air governance
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank released an ECCB Connects episode in which aviation specialist Dennis Mc Call said the Caribbean's most urgent aviation problem is travel affordability, driven by taxes, fees and charges. He also said the proposed OECS Air should be governed independently with limited government intervention, alongside greater focus on sustainability, innovation and digital integration.