Caribbean Airlines (CAL) officials said passengers on the airbridge left stranded during the passage of Tropical Storm Bret have been flown to their respective destinations.
Between June 16 and 19 the airline moved 10,862 passengers between the two islands.
CAL’s communications manager Dionne Ligoure said confirmed passengers were given priority.
“By midday we had cleared 90 per cent and by Tuesday evening all passengers were out of Tobago,” she told the T&T Guardian. Ligoure said stand-by passengers were dealt with but priority was given to confirmed passengers.
The Arthur NR Robinson Airport was closed at 2 pm on Monday because of the danger posed by Bret, but Ligioure said from 4 am on Tuesday morning the airline had a cabin crew and first officer waiting to begin flights.
“The first flight out on Tuesday morning was a domestic flight,” she said.
To handle the influx of passengers who had to be put off when the airport closed on Monday, a displaced passenger counter was set up manned by employees of a handling company retained by the airline. Ligoure said: “This was a situation that was not normal but we wanted to ensure we did what was necessary to ensure that everyone was accommodated.”
CAL faced its own share of problems with many of its employees affected by floods in the wake of Bret.
Ligoure said the airline put on three jets with a capacity of 154 each and did six rotations in total to and from Crown Point and Port-of-Spain.
However, on the seabridge the T&T Express could not sail either Monday or Tuesday because of rough seas. Sailings resumed yesterday with the vessel leaving for Scarborough at 7.15 am, 45 minutes later than the scheduled 6.30 am sailing.
General Manager of the Inter-island Ferry Service Leon Grant said because of the disruption in the sailing schedule on Monday and Tuesday, the vessel returned to Port-of-Spain to accommodate passengers and was due to leave again last night for Scarborough.
Today the vessel is scheduled to sail from Scarborough at 7.30 am and from Port-of-Spain at 4 pm.
Port Authority officials said there will be daily sailings of the Atlantic Provider and the barge the Trinity Transporter continues to sail on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to ensure supplies are delivered to Tobago.