In the Caribbean, airlift is more than a transportation issue. It shapes how destinations grow, how easily travelers can reach the region, and how competitive individual markets remain. As airlines adjust routes and governments focus on infrastructure and access, air connectivity has become one of the most important factors influencing Caribbean tourism.
With that backdrop, the Caribbean Tourism Organization will host the 2026 CTO Air Connectivity Summit in Bermuda on Tuesday, Feb. 24, 2026, bringing together senior public- and private-sector stakeholders to focus on the future of Caribbean airlift.
The one-day summit will be held under the theme “Integrating Aviation and Regional Tourism Development” and aligns with CTO’s broader Reimagine Plan. It follows consultations with the organization’s Ministerial Council, Board of Directors, and Airlift Committee, underscoring the growing regional focus on strengthening access to and within the Caribbean.
According to CTO, discussions at the summit will center on improving air access, supporting sustainable route development, and better aligning aviation strategy with tourism growth. Participants will also explore new partnerships and practical solutions to shared airlift challenges facing destinations across the region.
The Air Connectivity Summit will coincide with CTO’s Spring Business Meetings, scheduled for Feb. 23 at The Hamilton Princess & Beach Club. Those meetings will bring together CTO leadership, member countries, allied members, and industry stakeholders for a series of business sessions, bilateral meetings, and strategic discussions ahead of the dedicated airlift forum.
Summit participants are expected to include tourism ministers, directors of tourism, officials from ministries of transport and finance, airport executives, senior airline leaders and route planners, infrastructure developers, regulators, sustainability and innovation experts, representatives from regional and international trade associations, research firms, media, and local tourism stakeholders from Bermuda.
Program highlights will include a keynote address examining the current state and future outlook for Caribbean aviation, as well as the presentation of a CTO air connectivity study conducted by ASM. The agenda also includes panel discussions on international and intra-regional route development, a ministerial dialogue on Caribbean airlift strategy, and sessions exploring the link between aviation infrastructure and tourism development.
As destinations across the Caribbean look to expand access while balancing cost, sustainability, and airline economics, air connectivity remains a central issue for the region’s tourism sector. CTO said the Bermuda meetings are designed to provide a collaborative platform for advancing regional dialogue and coordination on airlift ahead of the year to come.
