Saint Lucia: Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire appreciates the performance of Saint Lucia at Routes America Conference which was held from March 19, 2024 to March 21, 2024, in Bogota, Colombia.
The conference consisted of a four-member delegation which was led by the Chairman of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority – Thaddeus M Antoine, who represented the country at the Routes America Conference.
At the gathering, delegates of Saint Lucia held a meeting with the executives from seven prospective airlines who are interested in introducing the inaugural routes to Saint Lucia, with some officials who aims to launch it as soon as, this year, in 2024.
Reportedly, similar strategic discussions were conducted with executives from the nine existing airlift providers who ensure the maintenance and sustainability of the present capacities and schedules.
The airlines anticipate the future growth based on the upcoming important events, considering the additional room stock and the development of the community tourism program. With some of them, who have even agreed to increase the capacity from this year.
Tourism Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire, of Saint Lucia is glad to confirm that by the end of the year 2024, the nation will experience an additional 113,000 airline seats in comparison to the previous year 2023 that includes 40,000 more seats available for the Summer 2024.
Notably, additional 3,000 seats from the Caribbean region will be compared to 2023, that will be led by JetBlue, New York from June 13, 2024 and American Airlines, Miami from June 5, 2024.
Inter Caribbean airlines will provide its services daily from Barbados and three times a week to Jamaica. Whereas, Caribbean Airlines will fly weekly from Jamaica via Trinidad.
The Minister of Tourism also confirms the launch of the much-needed new service which will also begin on Air Adelphi between Martinique, Saint Lucia and St Vincent.
The chartered services will commence from April 15, 2024 and will fly thrice a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. It will provide travellers with convenient connectivity between the destinations.
The ministry of tourism decided four time slots, that will be followed as per the selected schedule.
The first flight will depart from Kingston (SVD) at 7:30 a.m. and will arrive in Castries (SLU) at 7:55 a.m. The second flight will depart from Castries (SLU) at 8:15 a.m. and will arrive in Fort de France (FDF) at 8:30 a.m.
Following this, the third flight from Fort de France (FDF) at 9:00 a.m. will arrive in Castries (SLU) at 9:15 a.m. while, the next flight from Castries (SLU) at 9:30 a.m. will arrive in Kingston (SVD) at 9:55 a.m.
