The Cayman Islands and Barbados jointly unveiled plans for direct flights between the two destinations on Monday.
The announcement was made by Tourism Minister Kenneth Bryan, who was joined by the Chief Executive Officer of Cayman Airways, the national airline of the Cayman Islands, and Barbados’ Tourism Minister, Ian Gooding-Edghill, during a news conference.
The initiative, set to commence on October 18, is being hailed as a “game changer” by Minister Bryan, who is also the Chairman of the Barbados-based Caribbean Tourism Association (CTO).
The direct flights are expected to facilitate travel between the two islands as well as the broader eastern Caribbean region.
Tourism Minister’s vision: Bridging the gap with regional connectivity
Minister Bryan emphasized the vision of expanding the airline’s connectivity to key locations situated north, south, east, and west of the islands.
He further announced an additional weekly flight to Los Angeles, further enhancing their air service offerings.
“Suffice it to say that this new service to Barbados is a game changer for regional connectivity,” said Bryan, highlighting that it will deliver a faster and cheaper alternative, traveling between the Cayman Islands and Barbados than any other currently existing route on the market.
The convenience of direct flights will enable travelers to journey from one side of the Caribbean to the other within the same day, bypassing the need for layovers in Miami.
Minister Bryan underscored the positive impact of this initiative on various fronts, enhancing the Cayman Islands’ competitive advantage. Notably, it will allow access to underserved European markets such as Germany and Finland, bolstering economic opportunities for the islands.
Additionally, the new route is set to expand the Cayman Islands’ reach within the United Kingdom by providing connectivity from major airports, complementing the existing British Airways service from Heathrow.
Minister Gooding-Edghill expressed his commitment to increasing airlift into Bridgetown and lauded the new agreement with the Cayman Islands, stating that it marks a step in the right direction for Destination Barbados.
He cited reports revealing a growing momentum in the Caribbean market as airlift increases across the region.
He acknowledged the challenges faced by the global airline industry in securing sufficient aircraft to meet growing demands but affirmed the ministry’s dedication to increasing airlift options to ensure Barbados remains well-connected with the US, the Caribbean, and beyond.
Cayman Islands tourism sector showing signs of recovery
The announcement of the new direct route comes as the Cayman Islands’ tourism sector shows signs of recovery. Over the past weekend, the number of overnight guests has approached pre-pandemic levels.
The Ministry of Tourism reported that tourism accommodation taxes and fees have already exceeded the annual budget forecast in the first half of the year, indicating a strong rebound in the tourism industry.
Between January and June, the Cayman Islands welcomed 235,370 stayover guests, which represents 84 percent of the number of overnight visitors during the first six months of 2019—the islands’ busiest year to date.
Minister Bryan expressed optimism about the tourism performance and the sustained interest in the Cayman Islands as a premier travel destination, driven in part by the increase in the Average Daily Rate (ADR) of accommodations over the past year.
More on Caribbean travel
- American Airlines expands flights to Anguilla, St Maarten, and Barbados
- Top three US visa-denied countries in the Caribbean
- Caribbean Airlines launches new route to St. Kitts
