The Grenada Government announced on Wednesday that it has given permission for the New York based airline, JetBlue to fly to the island.
Tourism Minister Yolande Bain–Horsford says the contract with JetBlue was signed on Tuesday evening, paving the way for more gains in the country’s growing tourism industry.
JetBlue announced that it has set 11 June this year as the date to commence flights from New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Grenada’s Maurice Bishop International Airport (GND).
“Yesterday evening, we finally signed the contract with JetBlue coming here two flights weekly in June of this year, and this is a great thing for the hoteliers and everyone involved,” said Bain–Horsford. “It’s a joint venture. We have Sandals paying a portion, and also we have JetBlue, and we have the Grenada part of it… so that is signed, sealed and delivered, and I think we are out for a good start in June.”
JetBlue’s twice-weekly service will be on Thursdays and Sundays to Grenada, the airline’s 90th destination and its 32nd destination in the Caribbean and Latin America. The airline will serve the route with its spacious 150-seat Airbus A320 aircraft featuring the most legroom in coach, free first-run movies on flights to/from Grenada, and unlimited free snacks and soft drinks.
“The people who are having problems coming in they now have an opportunity,” said Bain–Horsford. “Although we have American airlines coming in but it’s coming in from Miami… JetBlue is coming straight from New York so it’s a great thing for us. We are looking forward to this starting off in June”.
In preparation for JetBlue’s inaugural flight to St.George’s, the tourism minister Wednesday morning met with the manager and officials of the airports authority. Grenada’s tourism industry has seen record growth last year, outstripping countries in the region in arrivals with the forecast for more gains in 2015.
“Grenada has seen remarkable growth in tourism, thanks to a fresh marketing approach, an extraordinary new Sandals resort, and a very resilient and committed tourism sector. Combine that with all the magnificent facets of our tr-island state and we have a winning formula,” said the Honorable Alexandra Otway-Noel, former tourism minister and now Minister of Implementation, Government of Grenada.
“JetBlue is known to offer quality service and high standards, and is the perfect addition to our family. We are indeed very pleased to welcome the inaugural flight on June 11th to Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean”.
GIS