St. Vincent and the Grenadines owes JetBlue more than EC$10 million

St. Vincent and the Grenadines owes U.S.-based carrier JetBlue more than EC$10 million under an agreement reached by the previous administration, Tourism Minister Dr. Kishore Shallow has disclosed.

Shallow made the revelation in Parliament while responding to a question from opposition legislator Keisal Peters about Delta Air Lines’ decision to end its nonstop service between Atlanta and Argyle International Airport in September.

The tourism minister did not provide a detailed breakdown of the amount owed to JetBlue but said the debt was among the financial liabilities inherited by the New Democratic Party government when it took office in November 2025.

“JetBlue, for example, [is a] very important airline to St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” Shallow said. “We entered in an agreement … and from 2024 to when you demitted office, you refused to pay your bill, resulting in us owing that airline over $10 million today.”

Shallow also criticized the way the agreement was negotiated, telling lawmakers he was unaware of who represented the former government in the discussions and alleging that no professional organization or consultant was involved.

His comments came as the government faces questions over Delta’s decision to discontinue its Atlanta-St. Vincent nonstop service.

According to Shallow, government officials held meetings with Delta on May 19 and July 31 before the airline announced its decision.

He said Delta cited passenger demand falling below projections, high fuel costs and weaker-than-expected demand for premium travel among the reasons for ending the route.

However, Shallow said the carrier has indicated that it is willing to consider restoring some level of service during the next winter season.

Delta launched the Atlanta-Argyle International Airport route on Dec. 20, 2025, with plans to operate 22 flights per month.

Shallow described that schedule as “ambitious” compared with other airlines serving the destination, which operated fewer monthly flights.

Despite Delta's decision, the minister said passenger numbers have been improving.

The average number of arriving passengers on Delta flights increased from 64 during the carrier's first three months of service to 117 over the most recent three-month period, according to Shallow.

JetBlue also recorded an increase, with its average arriving passenger count rising from 114 during the first three months of the government's term to 140 during the most recent three-month period.

Shallow said the figures demonstrated growth in visitor traffic and maintained that the government was working to strengthen St. Vincent and the Grenadines' tourism and aviation sectors.

The government is also restructuring the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority, including the appointment of Shafia London as its new chief executive officer.

Shallow said senior positions are also being established in commercial development, marketing, tourism product and experience, quality intelligence and strategy, and internal operations.

The minister said the government has begun re-engaging existing airlines and is holding discussions with two potential new carriers.

He acknowledged that airlines have raised concerns about the availability of hotel rooms in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, an issue the government is seeking to address.

Shallow said he is confident the country will attract at least five major brand-name hotels within the government's first two five-year terms in office.