THE WEEKEND STAR understands that the airline is facing challenges due to the passage of Hurricane Irene over the East Coast.

In a statement on Caribbean Airlines website, the airline said it is having maintenance problems with an aircraft it leased to help transport passengers.

The airline has been operating extra flights to and from New York to Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad.

It said Hurricane Irene caused the cancellation of 34 flights.

The airline also stated that while additional planes have been leased to assist in moving remaining passengers, there is a maintenance delay with the aircraft.

This, the airline said, is posing a setback to the recovery process.