Jamaica is preparing to welcome thousands of European travelers in 2025, thanks to new agreements with Switzerland’s Edelweiss, Portugal’s World2Fly, and Germany’s TUI Group, according to Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett. The minister and his team have been working to secure additional flight routes, with some new services set to begin as early as June 2025.
These announcements were made at the 45th International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain, where Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett, Senior Adviser and Strategist Delano Seiveright, and Director of Tourism Donovan White engaged with global tourism leaders. FITUR, a prominent event for tourism professionals worldwide, provided the perfect platform for these discussions.
Starting in June, World2Fly will launch weekly non-stop flights from Lisbon, Portugal, to Montego Bay, with over 50% of seats already sold. The airline will operate the route using a new Airbus A350, which has a seating capacity of 432.
Meanwhile, Swiss leisure and charter airline Edelweiss will increase its flights from Zurich, Switzerland, to Montego Bay to two per week, starting in November. These flights will be operated using an Airbus A340, which seats 314 passengers. Edelweiss, a subsidiary of Germany’s Lufthansa Group and the sister company of Swiss International Air Lines, is expanding its presence in the Jamaican market.
TUI Group also revealed plans to expand its flight operations from Italy and Spain, with a special focus on the Caribbean and Jamaica. This announcement came after a meeting with TUI executives, including CEO Sebastian Ebel. TUI Group, a key player in global tourism, operates multiple travel agencies, hotel chains, cruise lines, and five European airlines.
Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett highlighted the significance of the expansion, stating, “An increase in flights from Europe and additional investment from this longstanding partner is a positive development for Jamaica. We will be able to use this to boost arrivals and drive higher earnings for our economy.”
Bartlett noted that Jamaica’s participation at FITUR marks the beginning of the ministry’s strategy for 2025. With the mantra ‘Thrive in 2025’, he said Jamaica is aiming to attract five million visitors and generate US$5 billion in earnings this year, reinforcing the country’s position as a leading global destination.
