BWIA West Indies Airways
BWIA West Indies Airways Limited, known locally as "Bee-Wee" and formerly as British West Indian Airways and BWIA International Airways, was the national airline based in Trinidad and Tobago. At the end of operations, BWIA was the largest airline operating out of the Caribbean, with direct service to the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Its main base was Piarco International Airport (POS), Piarco, with major hubs at Grantley Adams International Airport (BGI) and Cheddi Jagan International Airport (GEO) during 2006. It was headquartered in the BWIA Administration Building in Piarco, Tunapuna–Piarco on the island of Trinidad. The company slogan was Sharing our warmth with the world.
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| Founded | 27 November 1939 (as British West Indian Airlines) | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 27 November 1940 | ||||||
| Ceased operations | 31 December 2006 (re-organized as Caribbean Airlines) | ||||||
| Hubs | Port of Spain | ||||||
| Secondary hubs | |||||||
| Frequent-flyer program | BWEE Miles | ||||||
| Subsidiaries | Tobago Express (2001—2006) | ||||||
| Parent company | 50% ownership by private investors, 15% by employees, and 35% by the Trinidad and Tobago government | ||||||
| Headquarters | Tunapuna–Piarco, Trinidad and Tobago | ||||||
The company announced on 8 September 2006 that the airline would be shut down on 31 December 2006. All of the approximately 1700 employees were separated from the company but applied for new contracts with a new entity, Caribbean Airlines.