Jamaica marked another milestone in regional aviation as LIAT 2020’s inaugural flight from Antigua and Barbuda to Montego Bay landed at Sangster International Airport on Friday, July 11.
The new route builds on the existing Antigua–Kingston service by introducing seamless connectivity to Montego Bay. Flights will operate three times per week on a 50-seat aircraft, offering passengers uninterrupted service along the full Antigua–Kingston–Montego Bay leg without layovers—enhancing convenience for regional travelers.
Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett hailed the expansion as a significant step toward deeper Caribbean tourism integration.
“We now have in Jamaica the presence of every single possible airline that traverses the Caribbean at this time. We have connectivity with Bahamasair, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Airways, interCaribbean Airways, Aerogaviota, and now LIAT 2020, which is making an even better connection,” he said.
Minister Bartlett emphasized Jamaica’s strategic move to become a regional aviation hub serving nearly 50 million people across the Caribbean. He also revealed that more regional connections are on the horizon, including flights from Sunrise Airways out of Haiti and Avianca’s upcoming direct service from Bogotá, Colombia, to Montego Bay.
“The important point of all of this is that we now must develop the ambition to harmonise the policies to enable air and sea connectivity in a seamless way in the Caribbean,” Bartlett added. “The Caribbean is also now ready for global connectivity with this kind of interlink that is taking place, and I’m excited about this prospect. We’ve been talking about it, and we need to talk [and act more].”
The regional tourism industry attracted approximately 34 million visitors last year, who spent nearly US$40 billion. Tourism also accounts for about one-third of all jobs in the region.
LIAT 2020’s Chief Operating Officer, Kidus Melkamu, expressed appreciation for the support received from MBJ Airports Limited and various government agencies in facilitating the new service. He also shared plans to optimize the Kingston–Montego Bay route by eventually separating the flights to increase frequency, allowing for more same-day regional travel and better connectivity to long-haul destinations like Ghana.
Permanent Secretary in Antigua and Barbuda’s Ministry of Tourism, Sandra Joseph, described the flight as a symbol of regional unity and a boost for tourism, education, and business ties. She noted Jamaica is Antigua and Barbuda’s second-largest tourism market and praised LIAT 2020 for enhancing cultural and economic bonds.
MBJ Airports Limited CEO Shane Munroe welcomed the airline’s entry, calling it a strategic move that increases regional connectivity and gives passengers more flexible options for efficient Caribbean travel.
