Cayman Airways Limited (CAL) and Tampa International Airport (TPA) together marked a major milestone this week as they celebrated 40 years of nonstop flights between the Cayman Islands and Tampa – TPA’s longest-serving airline to the Caribbean, and one of CAL’s longest running international routes.

In his remarks at a special ceremony held at TPA on December 15, 2025, Deputy Premier and Minister of Tourism and Trade Development for the Cayman Islands, Hon. Gary Rutty, shared: “For four decades, the partnership between the Cayman Islands and Tampa has supported small businesses, strengthened our tourism industry, and opened doors for cultural exchange. But this route has never just been about convenience. It has been about forging deep and genuine lasting connections. Families have been reunited, students have pursued dreams, and businesses on both sides have grown because Cayman Airways remained committed to serving this vital link. And the past 40 years has taught us that when Cayman Airways builds an air bridge, it is safe, dependable, well-supported, and built to endure.”

The Deputy Premier also emphasized that the longevity of the route reflects mutual trust, sustained demand, and Cayman Airways’ consistent role as a proud ambassador for the Cayman Islands. “To the Tampa community, thank you for welcoming Cayman Airways all those years ago, and for continuing to believe in the value of this partnership. Thank you for being part of our story, and for allowing us to be part of yours.”

Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors for Cayman Airways, Capt. Kris Bergstrom, reflected on the airline’s history at Tampa International Airport, describing the 40-year milestone as more than just a flight number on a schedule, but a living connection between two communities that have a shared history, opportunity, and family ties for generations.

“Long before this route ever took to the skies, Caymanians were already putting down roots along the Gulf Coast – in the 1960’s and 70’s, many Caymanian seafarers settled in Tampa and in other Gulf cities, drawn by opportunity and the natural maritime bond that connects our people,” he said. “Tampa became a second home for many Caymanian families – a place where culture, community, and commerce flourished.”

Capt. Bergstrom added: “Forty years ago, when this route was first established on December 16, 1985, it did something powerful: it made those connections easier, faster, and stronger. In fact, this was only the third international route ever launched by TPA, a testament to both the foresight of the airport and the importance of the Cayman Islands as an international partner.”

Tampa airport CEO, Mr. Michael Stephens, stated: “For the past 40 years, TPA and Cayman Airways have been forging a tremendous relationship that connects both people and cultures, and strengthens year after year. This relationship illustrates just how important working together has been, not only to our airport, but to the entire Tampa Bay community.”

Passengers at both TPA and Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman were greeted with festive decorations and floral displays, while at TPA the celebration included live music by Caymanian singer and songwriter Stuart Wilson, and traditional Caymanian cassava cake by Renda in the Cayman Islands, paired with CAL’s legendary fruit punch. A special ceremony at the CAL gate featured special remarks by Cayman Islands Government officials, Cayman Airways leadership, and TPA officials, as well as a presentation of gifts for officials, the cutting of a unique 40th anniversary cake that passengers got to sample, gift bags for passengers, as well as photo opportunities that captured the significance of the occasion.

Cayman Islands Government officials joining the Deputy Premier at the Tampa celebration included Minister for Planning, Lands, Agriculture, Housing and Infrastructure, the Hon. Johnay “Jay” Ebanks, and Deputy Speaker of the House the Hon. Pearlina McGaw-Lumsden. Cayman Airways executives joining Capt. Bergstrom included EVP Commercial Affairs and CFO, Mr. Paul Tibbetts, along with VP Airport Passenger and Cargo Services, Mr. Ivan Forbes.

The TPA team extended the celebration beyond the terminal by launching a special social media contest offering a trip for two to the Cayman Islands including roundtrip flights from Tampa aboard Cayman Airways, and accommodations at the Wyndham Reef Resort Grand Cayman. The digital activation invited audiences outside the airport to engage with the airline and TPA on this milestone.

Nonstop flights between Grand Cayman and Tampa operate five days a week, making Tampa Bay the destination with the second-highest number of flights among U.S. cities for Cayman Airways. The airline carries thousands of passengers between Tampa and Grand Cayman each year, with some 17,000 visitors from the Tampa Bay catchment area having visited the Cayman Islands over the past year.