TTALPA was first registered under the name British Air Line Pilots Association (Trinidad Branch) in 1948, and represented pilots who flew under British West Indian Airways Limited (B.W.I.A.). In September of 2006, B.W.I.A. announced that the airline would be closed on 31st December 2006. All of the employees were separated from the company but were invited to apply for new contracts with the new entity, Caribbean Airlines. Caribbean Airlines began operations in January 2007.
In 1972, the name was officially changed to the Trinidad and Tobago Air Line Pilots Association.
TTALPA is governed by a Council or Board of seven (7) elected members. They are aided in office by an Executive Administrator and a secretariat. TTALPA currently represents pilots who hold a commercial licence. This includes local airline pilots as well as helicopter pilots and boasts approximately 195 members.