With the popularity of a Caribbean getaway increasing among consumers each year, airlines have again facilitated travelers by adding new flights and increasing the frequencies of existing schedules to the region.

By 2007, vacationers will be offered a wider variety of destinations as well as flight times to choose from when planning their Caribbean getaways.  With increased service between many Caribbean countries, intra-Caribbean travel or ‘island hopping’ is easier than ever for travelers allowing them to experience multiple destinations during a single trip to the region.

“The continued rise in air service to and through the region reflects the airlines’ tremendous level of confidence in the Caribbean and its attractiveness to vacationers,” said Hugh Riley, director of marketing for the Americas of the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO).  “New and expanded air service is making it extremely easy for travelers to experience the vast diversity of the Caribbean by island hopping their way around the region,” he added.

New Services

Air Jamaica will increase flights to St. Lucia with continuing service to Barbados effective Jan. 11, 2007.  Air Jamaica will provide non-stop flights from JFK International Airport (NY) to Hewanorra International Airport (St. Lucia) every Sunday, Monday and Thursday.  Visit www.airjamaica.com or call 888-FLY-AIRJ (359-2475).

American Eagle will increase its service to Anguilla adding two daily flights departing from San Juan starting Dec. 14, 2006.  Visit www.aa.com or call 800-433-7300.

Continental will add a second weekly non-stop flight from Newark, NJ to Bonaire starting Dec. 16, 2006.  Visit www.continental.com or call 800-231-0856.

Caribbean Airlines, as of Jan. 1, 2007, will be replacing BWIA West Indies Airways, which has served the Caribbean for 66 years.  The first Caribbean Airlines flight will take off on the first as well.  Tickets purchased on BWIA will be honored and frequent flyer miles in Club BWEE will automatically be transferred.  For more information go to www.caribbean-airlines.com or www.bwee.com or call 868-627-2942.

Delta plans to add a daily non-stop flight from Atlanta to Santiago, Dominican Republic with connections via New York and New Jersey as well as a daily non-stop and one-stop flight from New York (JFK International Airport) to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (with the one-stop in Atlanta) starting Dec. 9, 2006.

On Dec. 15, 2006, Delta will add a daily non-stop flight from Atlanta to Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic.

On Dec. 16, 2006, Delta is scheduled to offer non-stop service from Atlanta to Martinique every Saturday.

For more information visit www.delta.com or call 800-241-4141.

Northwest Airlines will add a new non-stop flight from Detroit Metropolitan Airport to Cyril E. King Airport in St. Thomas effective Jan. 6, 2007.  Visit www.nwa.com or call 800-345-7411.
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