Expanded Air Links Driving Caribbean Visitor Growth

Image: Travelers looking out at Charlotte Amalie harbor in St. Thomas USVI. (photo by Brian Major)

by Brian Major
Last updated: 4:10 PM ET, Wed April 3, 2024

Caribbean destinations are continuing to expand air connections with U.S. gateways, fueling unprecedented visitor growth in several countries.

Government and tourism officials attending the Routes Americas conference in Bogota, Colombia earlier this month reported expanded flights and frequencies, airport infrastructure improvements and strong visitor growth.

In meetings with met with airlines including American, Delta, Southwest, Spirit Airways, JetBlue and United, U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism (USVIDOT) officials discussed “growth strategies aimed at opening new gateways in high-demand markets."

USVIDOT also addressed “enhancing existing routes and addressing seasonality shifts to maximize the territory's tourism potential.” The agency is forecasting a 28 percent year-over-year air arrivals increase between January and August of this year.

In addition, “Projections for the continental U.S. winter 2023/2024 indicate a 25 percent increase compared to winter 2022/2023 and a 15 percent increase versus 2021/2022,” USVIDOT officials said in a statement.

“We are thrilled to report unprecedented growth in air arrivals, with exceptionally strong yields to both St. Thomas and St. Croix," said Joseph Boschulte, USVIDOT’s commissioner.

“The continued support from our airline partners emphasizes the promising outlook for tourism in the U.S. Virgin Islands.”

Dual-Island Growth

Officials from dual-island nation Antigua and Barbuda realized “an immediate result” from the Routes Americas conference in terms of increased flights.

Daily American Airlines flights from Charlotte, N.C., to Antigua and Barbuda’s V.C. Bird International will begin December 5 and continue throughout the winter season, said Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) officials.

Additionally, American’s will to operate two daily flights from Miami throughout the summer and winter, while Delta flights from Atlanta will increase to twice weekly during the winter seasons in 2024 and 2025.

“We are enjoying increases in airlift from our established markets, with the U.S. continuing to show the most expansion,” said Charles Fernandez, Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism minister, “with more daily flights added for the critical summer and winter months.”

Fernandez said JetBlue will increase its New York departures from three times weekly to daily this summer, while Delta will increase Antigua and Barbuda flights from Atlanta to twice weekly this winter.

The destination’s airlift growth “will be vital to support the increase in rooms with new properties opening,” including the Royalton Chic, Fernandez said.

Increased Access

Dominica will become “more accessible than ever” due to expanded airline links, according to Dominica government officials.

American Airlines will boost flight frequency to the destination from Miami to daily service from June 5 through August 5 and November 5 through March 31, 2025.

“This decision underscores American Airlines' confidence in Dominica's tourism product,” said Denise Charles-Pemberton, Dominica’s minister of tourism. The expansion “reflects a significant opportunity for more leisure visitors from our primary source markets in the U.S. and Canada,” she said.

Charles-Pemberton added, “In addition to American Airlines, other reputable carriers such as Caribbean Airlines, InterCaribbean Airways, Silver Airways, Winair, and Express des Isles contribute to the enhanced connectivity to Dominica.”

Caribbean Airlines departs from Trinidad's Piarco International Airport to Dominica with a nonstop service that continues to Barbados on Thursdays. InterCaribbean operates 17 weekly flights to Dominica, primarily from Barbados and St. Lucia.

Infrastructure Expansion

Other destinations outlined plans to expand their airport infrastructure. On March 27, record-smashing Anguilla held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 50,000-square-foot passenger terminal at Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.

The new terminal is expected to be ready by the fall of 2025, while an extension of the airport’s runway to 7,000 feet will follow as the next phase of its redevelopment.

“We are making significant investments in our airport infrastructure, and we are pleased to announce that our expansion is on schedule,” said Kendell Richardson, Acting CEO of the Anguilla Air and Sea Ports Authority.

“Ease of access is a critical factor in growing any destination’s tourism industry,” said Stacey Liburd, Anguilla’s director of tourism. “We are confident that the new carriers and new routes coming on stream in the next two years will deliver record visitor arrivals.”

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