The exclusive aviation summit and retreat CARIBAVIA returned to St. Barts this year, held between the 10th and 12th June.
The prestigious event has further strengthened St. Barts’ strategic position in the sector, with the island hosting a vast array of fascinating conferences and workshops against beautiful beachy backdrops.
Gathering over 80 aviation and tourism professionals from across the globe, CARIBAVIA is centred around discussing local matters such as tourism and economic development through airlift in the region across an extensive three-day programme.
The only Caribbean aviation forum which focuses on the critical link between air travel and economic well-being, CARIBAVIA provides a space for stakeholders to share information, network, and develop actionable insights.
This year’s speakers included Adam Twidell, Chairman of the European Business Aviation Association, who talked about future of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) operations in the Caribbean.
In addition, Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace, former Minister of Tourism of the Bahamas and General Secretary of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, spoke on liberalising airlift in the Caribbean, whilst Umberto Vallino, Marketing and Business Development Manager at Aéroports de la Cote d’Azur, discussed private aviation connectivity between the Caribbean and its high-end source market, the French Riviera.
Discussions surrounding the importance of aviation in driving economic growth in the Caribbean also emerged as a central theme at this year’s event, with Captain Alicia Hackshaw, a flight operations inspector for the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Aviation Authority, discussing how strategic aviation investments in training and manufacturing could drive growth, create high-value jobs, and position the region as a dynamic player in the global aerospace ecosystem.
Her message was delivered at an opportune moment since CARIBAVIA has been working on making the region more self-sufficient, with many attendees having long advocated for Caribbean-based workforce training and development.
More than a global summit, CARIBAVIA is also crucial in community-building, with its unique boutique-style approach intended to offer more intimate opportunities for engagement to those who truly welcome change and value innovation with regards to the future of aviation.
As such, CARIBAVIA sees attendees returning year-on-year thanks to the friendly atmosphere and feeling of family and community that it has become well-known for.
St. Barts is proud to have hosted such an event which is highly regarded as a catalyst for progress and innovation in a region where aviation is not just a convenience, but a lifeline.
In light of the success of the 2025 event, the island is keen to host future iterations of CARIBAVIA – aside from the ninth annual event, which has already been scheduled to take place in Antigua and Barbuda between 8th and 10th June 2027.
