Optimism Greets American Airlines' Entry into Northeastern Jamaica

• Residents and business interests in the northeastern parishes of St. Ann, St. Mary, and Portland are eagerly anticipating the introduction of American Airlines’ new flights between Miami International Airport, Florida, and Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St. Mary.
• The airline, headquartered in Texas, recently announced that it will operate two weekly flights on the route starting on February 24, 2024, using its Embraer 175 aircraft, which has a capacity for 76 passengers. This will be the first US airline to service the Ian Fleming airport.
• One of the key advantages being highlighted is the convenience that the new flight route will bring to visitors staying in Ocho Rios, Boscobel, Tower Isle, and Port Antonio.
• Portland businessman Danny Royal tells JIS News that the resort parish “might well be the biggest beneficiary” of this development. He further highlighted that the distance from the Sangster Airport in Montego Bay has placed Port Antonio at a major disadvantage for decades in terms of tourist arrivals, where this is a major start and catalyst for bigger things to come.
• Calling the development an important step for tourism growth in the northeastern region, Tourism Minister Hon. Edmund Bartlett, says the move justifies the Government’s vision of expanding the Ian Fleming Airport.
• With direct access to Ian Fleming International Airport, travelers will no longer have to endure the lengthy road journey to reach Port Antonio from Montego Bay. This is expected to significantly enhance the overall visitor experience and accessibility to the northeastern region of the island. Furthermore, businesses in those areas are looking forward to the economic benefits that the new flight route is anticipated to bring.

 (Source: JIS News)