ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Tourism officials are hoping that the introduction of American Airlines’ direct service to New York JFK Airport will serve as a much-needed shot in the arm for the industry.
On November 17, the airline will begin operating non-stop service on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
“The new service will be a welcome boost for the island’s hotels ensuring that adequate airlift is available to support marketing efforts ahead of the busy Thanksgiving holiday travel period which marks the start of the winter season. The new flights will be supported by an aggressive joint marketing campaign with American Airlines in the New York area,” Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) Chief Executive Officer Colin C James said in a statement.
In a press conference yesterday, Tourism Minister John Maginley and other officials said the service, which will see four weekly Boeing 737 aircraft touching down at VC Bird International Airport, augers well for the country.
For Maginley the new service brings about new opportunities for both the peak and off-peak seasons.
“During the summer period and the off period, a lot of the hotels complain that there is no access so even if people wanted to come, they could not. But by us signing this year-round agreement now, and its 700-odd seats a week initially, it gives hoteliers a better opportunity to plan during the summer time,” the minister told reporters.
The airline and the Tourism Authority plan to aggressively market the flights both to people residing in the tri-state area and those here in Antigua.
“It is absolutely important that we put the marketing support behind the flights. One of the things that we have been focusing on recently, and we’ve seen it in the arrival numbers, is to work with a lot of the Travelocities, Expedia.com … where we work through the online component to encourage bookings that way and that has reaped tremendous rewards for us,” James said.
American Airlines Country Manager Cathy Ann Edwards said the new service comes just in time for the 30th anniversary of the airline’s operation in Antigua and promotions will be offered to coincide with the occasion.
She also noted that the service will increase the options for connections for passengers leaving Antigua while providing further opportunities for boosting the twin island’s tourism potential.
“The flight brings an incredible opportunity to increase tourism to our island. New York is one of the largest cities in the world … Direct flights are the answer to increasing the influx of New Yorkers and others from the tri-state to our islands. We will work with the tourism authority to promote this new service,” Edwards said, adding that the airline is planning familiarisation trips for media, travel agents and wholesalers.
“We believe that once they experience the beauty and hospitality of our islands they will sell Antigua and Barbuda as the place to go,” Edwards said.
American Airlines currently serves the VC Bird International Airport with daily flights to and from San Juan and Miami. Through the new Antigua – New York (JFK) flight, passengers would have access to more than 60 non-stop connections in New York on both American and American Eagle.
Source: http://www.antiguaobserver.com
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