Jamaica has welcomed the first-ever LIAT Air flight from Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, to Montego Bay, marking the start of a new direct route that is expected to strengthen travel, tourism and business ties across the Caribbean.
The inaugural flight landed on Tuesday, July 15, at Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, St. James, with 33 passengers on board, said the Jamaica Gleaner. The service will now operate twice a week, every Tuesday and Saturday, providing year-round connections between the two destinations.
The new route is being seen as an important step in improving regional connectivity, making it easier for people to travel between Caribbean islands while opening new opportunities for tourism, trade and cultural exchange.
For Jamaica, the direct service creates easier access to the French Caribbean and offers a new gateway for French and European travellers. At the same time, residents of Guadeloupe now have a direct link to Jamaica’s internationally known tourism product without having to travel through North America or connect through several Caribbean airports.
The route is also expected to benefit Guadeloupe by encouraging multi-island vacations that combine French- and English-speaking Caribbean destinations. It is also expected to support increased business and conference travel, make family visits within the region more convenient, encourage new airline and cruise partnerships, and expand cultural exchanges through music, food, festivals and sports.
For Jamaica, the service supports ongoing efforts by Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett to attract visitors from a wider range of international markets beyond North America and the United Kingdom. It also strengthens Montego Bay’s position as an emerging aviation hub for the Caribbean.
Welcoming the inaugural flight, Jamaica’s Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Hon. Tova Hamilton, said the new service represents far more than an additional flight.
“Every seat on this aircraft represents opportunity.”
She also underscored the importance of improving transportation links throughout the region.
“The Caribbean cannot reach its full potential as a collection of isolated islands,” she said. “Our strength lies in moving people, goods, and culture more freely across our borders.”
LIAT Air Chief Operating Officer Obiukwu Mbanuzuo echoed that sentiment, describing the new service as more than just another route for the airline.
“It is a connection between two nations, their peoples and their economies,” he said.
