Antigua and Barbuda’s trip to the Routes Americas tradeshow in Bogota, Columbia has been deemed a success as talks with airline officials have resulted in increased flights to the country.
The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) said the team held 35 meetings with top airline network planners over three days during the tradeshow.
ABTA said American Airlines (AA) plans to offer a daily service from Charlotte, North Carolina to V.C. Bird International from December 5th, 2024.
AA’s Miami route will also continue operating two daily flights throughout the summer and winter.
Delta also plans to increase its service from Atlanta to twice weekly during the winter seasons from 2024 and 2025.
JetBlue will increase flights from three times weekly to daily in summer 2024. United also plans to offer a daily service during the winter months.
In the Canadian market, Westjet plans to maintain its twice-weekly service year-round.
Antigua and Barbuda is also exploring an arrangement with British Airways for daily service for the upcoming winter season.
Minister of Tourism Charles Fernandez expressed his excitement about welcoming more visitors to Antigua and Barbuda.
“We are enjoying increases in airlift from our established markets, and the US is continuing to show the most expansion, with more daily flights added for the critical summer and winter months. We are excited that American Airlines will offer daily flights into Antigua from JFK and Charlotte in the winter and maintain double daily services from Miami, boosting air connectivity through the carrier’s major hubs,” Fernandez said.
The minister said Antigua and Barbuda is turning its sights south and is looking to attract more visitors from Latin America.
“Antigua and Barbuda recognises that the Latin American traveller will be vital in boosting our tourism numbers. Antigua and Barbuda’s ability to forge strong and mutually rewarding partnerships within Latin America is critical to our long-term strategy, and the growth in our connectivity is a direct result of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority’s strategy to execute targeted sales plans in key markets,” he stated.