Travel

Direct flights from Hartford to Jamaica

Washington, DC – Come next year (2016) Jamaica could start receiving direct flights from Bradley International Airport (BIA) as a result of talks between Jamaica’s ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Ralph Thomas and executive director of Bradley International airport, Kevin Dillon.

According to Mr. Dillon, “direct service from Jamaica will serve a whole core of our population that we try to serve here in the Hartford, Connecticut area opening up enormous opportunities.

Mr. Dillon added that the nonstop service would add tremendously to Jamaica’s tourism product and will open many doors for increased travel from Hartford to Jamaica.  He said the services will also create great opportunity for cargo to other Caribbean islands, as once the service is established it will also offer connecting flights to other Caribbean islands.

Mr. Dillon said the Connecticut Airport Authority stands ready to offer incentives and take away some of the risk that is associated with the start-up route and they will be seeking to attract airlines to look at flying to Jamaica, direct from Hartford.

For his part Ambassador Ralph Thomas met with executives at the Connecticut Airport’s Authority Bradley office on Monday, November 30 said he felt pleased at the outcome of the meetings. The response from BIA’s executives was very positive and there was a strong interest in providing incentives to airlines that will fly out of Bradley into Jamaica.

Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Ralph Thomas receives a warm welcome from Antonio Guerera, State representative and chairman of the Connecticut Transport Committee as he arrives at the administrative office of the Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss possible direct flights out of Hartford into Jamaica. Sharing in the occasion (L-R) are Executive Director of the Bradley International Airport, Mr. Kevin Dillon and President of the Caribbean Trade Council, Mr. Andrew Lawrence.
Jamaica’s Ambassador to the United States Ralph Thomas receives a warm welcome from Antonio Guerera, State representative and chairman of the Connecticut Transport Committee as he arrives at the administrative office of the Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut to discuss possible direct flights out of Hartford into Jamaica. Sharing in the occasion (L-R) are Executive Director of the Bradley International Airport, Mr. Kevin Dillon and President of the Caribbean Trade Council, Mr. Andrew Lawrence.

The ambassador added that the profitability of such airlines hinges on having cargo along with passengers and he feels that this Hartford route can sustain this proposal because Hartford has the third largest Jamaican population, a large Caribbean diaspora as well as the proposed increased tourist passenger that Jamaica is poised to receive.

The ambassador said, early next year, follow-up meetings will be held between the Connecticut Airport Authorities, Jamaica Airport Authorities, The Jamaica Tourist Board and interested airlines.

ADVERTISEMENT

CAL Dce 2015 300x 250

South Florida Caribbean News

The SFLCN.com Team provides news and information for the Caribbean-American community in South Florida and beyond.

Related Articles

Back to top button