Cayman Airways

ICAO: CAY Active as of Dec 11, 2025

26

Active Routes

1442

Flight Observations

14

Unique Destinations

12

Origin Airports

728

Avg Route Distance (mi)

2625

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

26

International Routes
About Cayman Airways

Cayman Airways (ICAO: CAY) is the flag carrier airline of the British Overseas Territory of the Cayman Islands, playing a crucial role in connecting the islands domestically and internationally.

Cayman Airways was established on August 7, 1968, following the Cayman Islands Government's acquisition of a 51% stake in Cayman Brac Airways from LACSA, the Costa Rican flag carrier. The airline became wholly government-owned in December 1977. Since its inception, it has served as the national airline, facilitating both passenger and cargo services.

The airline's main operational base and head office are located at Owen Roberts International Airport (GCM) in George Town, Grand Cayman. Additionally, Miami International Airport (MIA) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) in the United States serve as important hub airports, providing connectivity for travelers to and from the Cayman Islands.

Cayman Airways operates a modern jet fleet consisting of four Boeing 737-8 (MAX 8) aircraft for its international, regional, and domestic jet routes. Its subsidiary, Cayman Airways Express, handles inter-island domestic services utilizing two Saab 340B+ aircraft and two De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, primarily connecting Grand Cayman with Cayman Brac and Little Cayman. The airline offers a route network that includes year-round nonstop service to major US cities such as Miami, Tampa, New York (JFK), Denver, and Los Angeles. Regionally, it serves destinations including Kingston and Montego Bay in Jamaica, Havana in Cuba, La Ceiba in Honduras, and Panama City in Panama, alongside its domestic inter-island flights. Cayman Airways is not a member of any major global airline alliance (e.g., Star Alliance, SkyTeam, Oneworld). However, it maintains codeshare agreements with several carriers, including American Airlines, British Airways, and JetBlue, and has a joint venture with British Airways for flights to London.

The airline offers two primary cabin classes: Economy Class and Business Class. A distinguishing service is the complimentary Seven Fathoms Rum Punch served on all international jet flights for passengers aged 18 and older, and a free meal is provided in Economy Class on international flights exceeding two hours. Business Class passengers receive an enhanced experience with complimentary drinks, a meal service, a hot-towel service, and access to the exclusive Sir Turtle lounge at Owen Roberts International Airport. The airline also features a loyalty program called Sir Turtle Rewards.

What Travelers Say

Recent traveler reviews for Cayman Airways indicate a mixed but generally positive sentiment, with particular appreciation for its unique local touches and dedicated staff, though operational consistency sometimes draws criticism.

What Travelers Love:

  • Exceptional Customer Service & Friendly Staff: Many passengers consistently praise the airline for its friendly, attentive, and hospitable staff, from check-in to in-flight service.
  • Unique In-flight Hospitality: The complimentary Seven Fathoms Rum Punch and free meals on longer international flights are often highlighted as a pleasant and distinctive aspect of the travel experience.
  • Direct Connectivity: Travelers value the airline's direct and nonstop routes, which provide essential and convenient access to the Cayman Islands.

Common Complaints:

  • Frequent Flight Delays and Poor Communication: Several recent reviews (2023) cite significant flight delays, lack of timely updates, and perceived poor communication from the airline during disruptions.
  • Inconsistent Service and Ground Staff Issues: Some travelers have reported instances of rude check-in staff, incorrect baggage charges, and unorganized ground operations, impacting their overall experience.
  • Limited In-Flight Entertainment: While a "Sir Turtle Entertainment" system is available for streaming on personal devices, the absence of traditional seat-back entertainment screens is noted by some, and older reviews mentioned outdated interiors on former aircraft.

Overall, the sentiment suggests that while Cayman Airways excels in providing a warm, hospitable, and uniquely Caymanian experience with dedicated staff, there are areas for improvement concerning operational consistency, particularly regarding punctuality and communication during delays, as well as the uniformity of ground services.

Safety Information

Cayman Airways maintains a strong safety focus and has a notable safety record.

The airline has reported a good safety record, with some sources asserting a "perfect safety record since its inception in 1968." While specific major accidents are not widely reported, minor incidents have occurred, such as a cabin pressurization issue, an engine shutdown in flight, and an unidentified odor onboard, all occurring in 2017. Following the global grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in March 2019, Cayman Airways voluntarily suspended its MAX 8 operations and resumed service in early 2021 after extensive design modifications and approvals from international regulatory bodies.

Cayman Airways operates under stringent regulatory oversight. It is regularly audited by key aviation authorities, including the Civil Aviation Authority of the Cayman Islands (CAACI), the British Civil Aviation Authority (UK CAA), and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The airline successfully completed the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA), achieving registration in 2008, which signifies adherence to global safety management standards. The airline is not listed on the European Union's Air Safety List.

The airline's fleet age and maintenance reputation are positive, especially following its recent modernization program. Cayman Airways completed the retirement of its older Boeing 737-300 aircraft in 2021 and now operates a jet fleet of "four brand new state-of-the-art Boeing 737-8 aircraft," making it one of the carriers with the newest jet fleets in the Caribbean. This modernization, coupled with the airline's stated commitment to a robust Safety Management System, underscores a strong maintenance reputation.

Based on available data, Cayman Airways has an excellent overall safety assessment. AirlineRatings.com gives Cayman Airways a safety rating of 7 out of 7, indicating a very high standard of safety. The IOSA registration further attests to its commitment to operational safety and compliance with international best practices.

Content generated by AI based on web research • Updated 2 weeks, 1 day ago
Route Network Map
Most Popular Routes
GCM → CYB
Owen Roberts International Airport → Charles Kirkconnell International
100 miles
414 flights
SF34
GCM → LYB
Owen Roberts International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
86 miles
312 flights
DHC4
226 flights
CVLT
GCM → KIN
Owen Roberts International Airport → Norman Manley Int'l
314 miles
126 flights
B38M
91 flights
B38M
KIN → GCM
Norman Manley International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
314 miles
53 flights
B38M
CYB → GCM
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
100 miles
45 flights
SF34
36 flights
B38M
CYB → LYB
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
14 miles
24 flights
DHC4
MIA → GCM
Miami International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
492 miles
20 flights
B38M
Top Destinations
CYB (MWCB)
Charles Kirkconnell International
Cayman Brac
415 flights
2 routes
LYB (MWCL)
Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
Little Cayman
336 flights
2 routes
MIA (KMIA)
Miami Intl
Miami
226 flights
1 route
GCM (MWCR)
Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
145 flights
11 routes
KIN (MKJP)
Norman Manley Int'l
Kingston
126 flights
1 route
TPA (KTPA)
Tampa Intl
Tampa
91 flights
1 route
PTY (MPTO)
Tocumen Int'l
Panama City
36 flights
1 route
LCE (MHLC)
Goloson Int'l
La Ceiba
20 flights
1 route
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy Intl
New York
19 flights
1 route
HAV (MUHA)
Jose Marti Int'l
Havana
18 flights
1 route
Top Origin Airports
GCM (MWCR)
Owen Roberts International Airport
George Town
1272 flights
13 routes
CYB (MWCB)
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport
West End
69 flights
2 routes
KIN (MKJP)
Norman Manley International Airport
Kingston
53 flights
1 route
MIA (KMIA)
Miami International Airport
Miami
21 flights
2 routes
PTY (MPTO)
Tocumen International Airport
Tocumen
10 flights
1 route
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy International Airport
New York
7 flights
1 route
MBJ (MKJS)
Sangster International Airport
Montego Bay
3 flights
1 route
TPA (KTPA)
Tampa International Airport
Tampa
2 flights
1 route
LCE (MHLC)
Goloson International Airport
La Ceiba
2 flights
1 route
LAX (KLAX)
Los Angeles International Airport
Los Angeles
1 flights
1 route
Top Border Crossing Flights
CYB (MWCB)
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport
Cayman Brac, KY
415 flights
2 routes
MIA (KMIA)
Miami International Airport
Miami, US
226 flights
1 route
GCM (MWCR)
Owen Roberts International Airport
George Town, KY
145 flights
11 routes
KIN (MKJP)
Norman Manley International Airport
Kingston, JM
126 flights
1 route
TPA (KTPA)
Tampa International Airport
Tampa, US
91 flights
1 route
PTY (MPTO)
Tocumen International Airport
Panama City, PA
36 flights
1 route
LCE (MHLC)
Goloson International Airport
La Ceiba, HN
20 flights
1 route
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy International Airport
New York, US
19 flights
1 route
Longest Routes
GCM → LAX
Owen Roberts International Airport → Los Angeles Intl
2625 mi
LAX → GCM
Los Angeles International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
2552 mi
GCM → DEN
Owen Roberts International Airport → Denver Intl
2042 mi
JFK → GCM
John F Kennedy International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
1626 mi
GCM → JFK
Owen Roberts International Airport → John F Kennedy Intl
1575 mi
Shortest Routes
CYB → LYB
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
14 mi
GCM → LYB
Owen Roberts International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
86 mi
CYB → GCM
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
100 mi
GCM → CYB
Owen Roberts International Airport → Charles Kirkconnell International
100 mi
MBJ → GCM
Sangster International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
232 mi
All Routes
26 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
GCM → CYB Charles Kirkconnell International
Cayman Brac
414 100 mi SF34 Dec 11, 2025
GCM → LYB Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
Little Cayman
312 86 mi DHC4 Dec 11, 2025
GCM → MIA Miami Intl
Miami
226 455 mi CVLT Dec 11, 2025
GCM → KIN Norman Manley Int'l
Kingston
126 314 mi B38M Dec 11, 2025
GCM → TPA Tampa Intl
Tampa
91 624 mi B38M Dec 11, 2025
KIN → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
53 314 mi B38M Oct 25, 2025
CYB → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
45 100 mi SF34 Dec 8, 2025
GCM → PTY Tocumen Int'l
Panama City
36 719 mi B38M Dec 11, 2025
CYB → LYB Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
Little Cayman
24 14 mi DHC4 Dec 8, 2025
MIA → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
20 492 mi B38M Nov 29, 2025
GCM → LCE Goloson Int'l
La Ceiba
20 439 mi B38M Dec 10, 2025
GCM → JFK John F Kennedy Intl
New York
19 1575 mi B38M Dec 10, 2025
GCM → HAV Jose Marti Int'l
Havana
18 265 mi B38M Dec 5, 2025
PTY → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
10 719 mi B38M Dec 8, 2025
JFK → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
7 1626 mi B38M Oct 16, 2025
GCM → LAX Los Angeles Intl
Los Angeles
4 2625 mi B38M Nov 29, 2025
MBJ → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
3 232 mi B38M Aug 26, 2025
GCM → MBJ Sangster Int'l
Montego Bay
3 232 mi B38M Aug 26, 2025
TPA → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
2 643 mi B38M Jul 17, 2025
GCM → DEN Denver Intl
Denver
2 2042 mi B38M Aug 16, 2025
LCE → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
2 439 mi B38M Dec 3, 2025
LAX → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
1 2552 mi B38M Aug 24, 2025
MIA → CYB Charles Kirkconnell International
Cayman Brac
1 472 mi UNKNOWN Aug 16, 2025
HAV → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
1 265 mi B38M Aug 8, 2025
MSY → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
1 1003 mi B38M Oct 12, 2025
Data Information:

Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.

Data Freshness: Real-time
Last Update: Dec 11, 2025 02:02
Coverage: Observed routes only