Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, expressed his appreciation for the announcement that United Airlines flights to Jamaica have increased by more than half since 2019.
This update was shared during a recent meeting between the Minister, his team, and United Airlines’ senior executives at the company headquarters.
United Airlines is a major American airline headquartered at the Willis Tower in Chicago, Illinois. It operates an extensive network of domestic and international routes throughout the United States and connects six continents from its seven connection centers in the continental United States.
“Jamaica continues to be in high demand and this increase by one of the largest US airlines demonstrates that the partnership between destination and airline has been fruitful and strong. We pride ourselves on being one of the most connected destinations through our network of airline partners who form a key part of driving our tourism growth,” said Minister Bartlett.
Third largest destination in the Caribbean
The top airline representatives have announced that they will be operating their largest schedule to Jamaica this year, which represents a 15% increase compared to 2023. They have also emphasized that Jamaica Sangster International Airport (MBJ) holds significant importance for the airline as its third largest destination in the Caribbean. United Airlines will be serving Montego Bay Airport from 5 of its hubs with a total of up to 34 weekly flights in 2024.
“Without airlift, we cannot expand our tourism industry, and that’s why we depend on these kinds of partnerships to create mutually beneficial results. Jamaica is well positioned for remarkable post-COVID growth, and with the ongoing demand for the island, we are optimistic about our tourism prospects,” said Minister Bartlett.
“The fact that one of the largest airlines in the United States, our largest source market, has increased its offering speaks volumes about our partnership and the attractiveness of Jamaica as a destination. There is no doubt that our unique and authentic tourism offering continues to make visitors want to come to our shores,” said Donovan White, Director of Tourism.
Summer is preparing to be very intense like some of the airline operations centers. This includes New York/Newark, Houston, Washington DC/Dulles, Chicago and Denver, which are experiencing strong load factors for travel to Jamaica.
