Cayman Airways wins Caribbean's Leading Airline at 2026 World Travel Awards

Cayman Airways took home Caribbean’s Leading Airline 2026 at the World Travel Awards gala in Jamaica, marking the carrier’s first win in the category. The airline also earned its first nomination for World’s Leading Airline, adding global visibility for the Cayman Islands’ national carrier.

Why it matters: - Cayman Airways’ first win in the Caribbean’s Leading Airline category gives the Cayman Islands’ national airline a high-profile endorsement from one of travel’s best-known awards programs. - The global nomination for World’s Leading Airline puts Cayman Airways alongside major international carriers and expands the airline’s visibility beyond the region. - The recognition strengthens Cayman Airways’ positioning as a tourism asset for the Cayman Islands.

What happened: - Cayman Airways Limited was named Caribbean’s Leading Airline 2026 at the World Travel Awards Caribbean & The Americas Gala Ceremony in Jamaica on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. - The airline’s president and CEO, Fabian Whorms, accepted the award at the ceremony. - Ivan Forbes, vice president of airport passenger and cargo services, and Carol Nugent, regional airport operations manager for the Caribbean and Latin America, joined Whorms at the event. - Cayman Airways also received its first nomination for World’s Leading Airline 2026.

The details: - Cayman Airways’ 2026 nomination in the Caribbean’s Leading Airline category was its first in that field, and the airline won on its debut. - The World Travel Awards are determined by votes from travel industry professionals and the travelling public. - Cayman Airways is the only Caribbean-based airline nominated in the World’s Leading Airline category. - The global nominee list includes Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways, Lufthansa, British Airways, Air New Zealand and Turkish Airlines. - Whorms said the win is a proud milestone in the airline’s nearly six decades of service. - Whorms said the award reflects Cayman Airways’ service excellence and Caymanian hospitality. - Whorms said the global nomination is especially meaningful for an airline of Cayman Airways’ size. - Deputy Premier and Minister for Tourism and Trade Development Gary Rutty called Cayman Airways a strategic national asset and an essential partner in tourism development. - Rutty said the airline’s air connectivity supports visitor arrivals and contributes to the economy. - World Travel Awards founder Graham E. Cooke congratulated Cayman Airways and said the award gives the airline and its home destination a platform with an international audience.

Between the lines: - The win adds to a broader run of recognition for Cayman Airways, which has been building a stronger brand beyond the Cayman Islands. - The airline has used service quality and national identity as part of its positioning, and the award reinforces that strategy in a competitive market. - The recognition also helps the Cayman Islands tourism push by tying the airline’s brand to destination marketing.

What’s next: - Voting for World’s Leading Airline 2026 is open through Oct. 30, 2026, on the World Travel Awards voting page. - Voters must register, verify their email address and log in before casting a vote. - Cayman Airways is asking customers, employees, industry partners, Cayman Islands residents and supporters worldwide to vote. - Cayman Airways will continue using the award and nomination to promote the airline and the Cayman Islands on the global stage.

The bottom line: - Cayman Airways turned its first Caribbean airline nomination into a win and added a global nomination that could further raise the profile of the Cayman Islands’ flag carrier.