Unngå Insel Air i Karibia - Curt Lewis

Foreign Office warns travellers not to fly on major Caribbean airline

Insel Air comes into land over Maho Beach at St Marten

British holidaymakers have been warned not to travel on one of the Caribbean's biggest airlines.

The Foreign Office (FCO) has issued guidance not to fly on InselAir, the national carrier of Dutch Caribbean island Curacao, due to safety concerns.

"Safety concerns have been raised about Insel Air," the FCO said. "The US and Netherlands authorities have prohibited their staff from using the airline while safety checks are being carried out. UK government officials have been told to the same as a precaution."

Boasting a fleet of 18 aircraft, and serving 26 destinations across the Caribbean and South America, as well as Miami in the US, Insel Air carried 1.4 million passengers in 2016. Its SkyTrax rating is just 3/10, however, with its page on the airline rating website garnering some less-than-positive reviews.

Insel Air flies to 26 destinations, predominantly around the Caribbean and south America

InselAir said it was aware that the Dutch Civil Aviation Inspectorate had recently visited Curacao as well as its sister airline Insel Air Aruba and performed "spontaneous audits". It said the inspectors left "pleasantly surprised".

In a statement the airline said: "Contrary to the information being circulated by the media, both local and abroad, both airlines remain until now unaware of any findings from the Dutch Civil Aviation Inspectorate that would have an effect on the airworthiness of their operations.

"Currently neither of the airlines have major pending technical and operational findings with their respective Aviation Authority."

The FCO does not normally pass judgement on airlines as standards are governed by national aviation authorities. It points travellers towards the International Air Transport Association for records on airline safety.