Jamaica welcomes new American Airlines with non-stop flights

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Jamaica has expressed its enthusiasm for the initiation of a new non-stop air service from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Ian Fleming International Airport (OCJ), exclusively provided by American Airlines. This service marks American Airlines as the sole carrier from the U.S. providing nonstop flights to Ocho Rios, significantly enhancing accessibility to the island’s northern and eastern regions for travelers.

The Honorable Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, voiced his satisfaction with American Airlines, Jamaica’s primary airline collaborator, for broadening its service spectrum in Jamaica to encompass all three of the island’s international airports. He underscored the timeliness of the new flights in bolstering stopover arrivals during the peak winter season, anticipating unprecedented success in terms of visitor numbers.

The launch of the new non-stop service by American Airlines from Miami to Ocho Rios is poised to significantly bolster airline tourism in Jamaica. By becoming the only U.S. carrier to offer direct flights to Ocho Rios, American Airlines is opening up easier access to Jamaica’s diverse attractions, particularly in its northern and eastern parts.

The service to Ocho Rios, scheduled to operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays, will utilize a 76-seat Embraer 175 aircraft, contributing to American Airlines’ extensive schedule of over 100 peak weekly flights to Jamaica. This addition not only enhances American Airlines’ existing services from MIA to Kingston (KIN) and Montego Bay (MBJ) but also expands the airline’s nonstop flight offerings to Jamaica from a total of eight U.S. cities, including Austin, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York, and Philadelphia.

This strategic expansion is expected to enhance Jamaica’s appeal as a tourist destination, potentially leading to an increase in visitor numbers, especially during the peak winter travel season. The addition of this flight, coupled with American Airlines’ extensive network of flights to Jamaica from multiple U.S. cities, strengthens Jamaica’s position as a premier Caribbean destination, promising to attract more tourists and stimulate economic growth within the local tourism sector. The new service symbolizes a milestone in Jamaica’s tourism industry, fostering stronger connections between Jamaica and the United States and contributing to the continuous growth of airline tourism in the region.

Donovan White, the Director of Tourism at the Jamaica Tourist Board, hailed the commencement of this service from the U.S. to Ocho Rios as a landmark event for Jamaica. He expressed gratitude towards American Airlines and projected that the new flights would play a significant role in drawing more visitors to explore Jamaica’s distinct tourism offerings.

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