Cayman Airways

Cayman Airways

ICAO: CAY IATA: KX Active Jun 3, 2026
28
Routes
2275
Flights
14
Destinations
13
Origins

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677

Avg Route Distance (mi)

2552

Longest Route (mi)

0

Domestic Routes

28

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.

Traveler Reviews

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.

Compiled by AirportRoutes.com • Updated 6 months ago

Route Network Map

Click on any airport to see its routes

Most Popular Routes

GCM → CYB
Owen Roberts International Airport → Charles Kirkconnell International
100 miles
643 flights
SF34
GCM → LYB
Owen Roberts International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
86 miles
497 flights
DHC4
341 flights
CVLT
GCM → KIN
Owen Roberts International Airport → Norman Manley Int'l
314 miles
196 flights
B38M
134 flights
B38M
KIN → GCM
Norman Manley International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
314 miles
86 flights
B38M
CYB → GCM
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
100 miles
80 flights
SF34
56 flights
B38M
GCM → JFK
Owen Roberts International Airport → John F Kennedy Intl
1545 miles
37 flights
B38M
CYB → LYB
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
14 miles
34 flights
DHC4

Top Destinations

CYB (MWCB)
Charles Kirkconnell International
Cayman Brac
648 flights
3 routes
LYB (MWCL)
Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
Little Cayman
531 flights
2 routes
MIA (KMIA)
Miami Intl
Miami
341 flights
1 route
GCM (MWCR)
Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
246 flights
12 routes
KIN (MKJP)
Norman Manley Int'l
Kingston
196 flights
1 route
TPA (KTPA)
Tampa Intl
Tampa
134 flights
1 route
PTY (MPTO)
Tocumen Int'l
Panama City
56 flights
1 route
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy Intl
New York
37 flights
1 route
LCE (MHLC)
Goloson Int'l
La Ceiba
32 flights
1 route
HAV (MUHA)
Jose Marti Int'l
Havana
26 flights
1 route

Top Origin Airports

GCM (MWCR)
Owen Roberts International Airport
George Town
1990 flights
13 routes
CYB (MWCB)
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport
West End
114 flights
2 routes
KIN (MKJP)
Norman Manley International Airport
Kingston
86 flights
1 route
MIA (KMIA)
Miami International Airport
Miami
34 flights
2 routes
PTY (MPTO)
Tocumen International Airport
Tocumen
12 flights
1 route
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy International Airport
New York
9 flights
1 route
TPA (KTPA)
Tampa International Airport
Tampa
8 flights
1 route
LYB (MWCL)
Edward Bodden Little Cayman Airfield
Blossom Village
7 flights
2 routes
HAV (MUHA)
José Martí International Airport
Havana
6 flights
1 route
MBJ (MKJS)
Sangster International Airport
Montego Bay
5 flights
1 route

Top Border Crossing Flights

CYB (MWCB)
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport
Cayman Brac, KY
648 flights
3 routes
MIA (KMIA)
Miami International Airport
Miami, US
341 flights
1 route
GCM (MWCR)
Owen Roberts International Airport
George Town, KY
246 flights
12 routes
KIN (MKJP)
Norman Manley International Airport
Kingston, JM
196 flights
1 route
TPA (KTPA)
Tampa International Airport
Tampa, US
134 flights
1 route
PTY (MPTO)
Tocumen International Airport
Panama City, PA
56 flights
1 route
JFK (KJFK)
John F Kennedy International Airport
New York, US
37 flights
1 route
LCE (MHLC)
Goloson International Airport
La Ceiba, HN
32 flights
1 route

Longest Routes

LAX → GCM
Los Angeles International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
2552 mi
GCM → LAX
Owen Roberts International Airport → Los Angeles Intl
2501 mi
GCM → DEN
Owen Roberts International Airport → Denver Intl
1987 mi
GCM → JFK
Owen Roberts International Airport → John F Kennedy Intl
1545 mi
JFK → GCM
John F Kennedy International Airport → Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
1543 mi

Shortest Routes

CYB → LYB
Charles Kirkconnell International Airport → Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
14 mi
LYB → CYB
Edward Bodden Little Cayman Airfield → Charles Kirkconnell International
83 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

All Routes

28 Total Routes
Showing 25 most popular routes
Route Destination Flights Distance Aircraft Last Seen
GCM → CYB Charles Kirkconnell International
Cayman Brac
643 100 mi SF34 Jun 3, 2026
GCM → LYB Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
Little Cayman
497 86 mi DHC4 Jun 3, 2026
GCM → MIA Miami Intl
Miami
341 455 mi CVLT Jun 3, 2026
GCM → KIN Norman Manley Int'l
Kingston
196 314 mi B38M Jun 3, 2026
GCM → TPA Tampa Intl
Tampa
134 607 mi B38M Jun 1, 2026
KIN → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
86 314 mi B38M Jun 1, 2026
CYB → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
80 100 mi SF34 May 9, 2026
GCM → PTY Tocumen Int'l
Panama City
56 719 mi B38M Jun 1, 2026
GCM → JFK John F Kennedy Intl
New York
37 1545 mi B38M May 27, 2026
CYB → LYB Edward Bodden Airfield (Little Cayman)
Little Cayman
34 14 mi DHC4 May 9, 2026
MIA → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
33 455 mi CVLT Apr 23, 2026
GCM → LCE Goloson Int'l
La Ceiba
32 439 mi B38M Jun 3, 2026
GCM → HAV Jose Marti Int'l
Havana
26 265 mi B38M May 28, 2026
GCM → DEN Denver Intl
Denver
12 1987 mi B38M May 29, 2026
PTY → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
12 719 mi B38M May 28, 2026
JFK → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
9 1543 mi B38M Apr 23, 2026
GCM → LAX Los Angeles Intl
Los Angeles
9 2501 mi B38M May 9, 2026
TPA → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
8 643 mi B38M May 29, 2026
GCM → MBJ Sangster Int'l
Montego Bay
6 232 mi B38M Jan 2, 2026
HAV → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
6 265 mi B38M May 29, 2026
MBJ → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
5 232 mi B38M Jan 2, 2026
LYB → CYB Charles Kirkconnell International
Cayman Brac
4 83 mi DHC4 Apr 20, 2026
LYB → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
3 291 mi DHC4 Jan 23, 2026
LCE → GCM Owen Roberts/Grand Cayman
George Town
2 439 mi B38M Dec 3, 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: Jun 3, 2026 08:04
Coverage: Observed routes only