Jamaica

(Dive Travel Business News - December 29, 2011) -- Dive Travelers are going to have access to more air lift, more access, more options and more gateways from the U.S. this year signaling a comeback in travel from the past two years. The downside - higher fares and full planes. Here is a summary of some of the new air service.

Antigua -
• American began nonstop flights four times a week from Kennedy to Antigua in November.
• St. Vincent Grenadines Air offers daily scheduled service between Antigua and Montserrat.

Aruba -
• JetBlue offers a Saturday flight from Boston to Aruba in addition to its two weekly flights
• AirTran has weekend flights from Baltimore to Aruba through March 14, plus daily service to Aruba from Atlanta and weekend flights from Orlando.
• Delta has weekly nonstop service on Saturday from LaGuardia to Aruba, complementing its Saturday nonstop service from DKennedy and its flights via Atlanta to Aruba from Kennedy, LaGuardia, Newark and Westchester County Airport. read more »

Speaking at the launch of the Regional Economic Outlook in October. Gilbert Terrier, IMF's senior advisor for the Western Hemisphere stated that,“Smaller islands in the region have experienced a sharper and more prolonged decline in arrivals than some of the larger islands. Destinations that significantly reduced hotel prices following the crisis experienced milder declines in arrivals.” read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - July 19, 2010) -- This travel alert is issued by the US State Department and is an update of the travel alert for Jamaica issued on May 23, 2010. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 27, 2010) --The Department of State warns U.S. citizens against travel to Kingston, Jamaica and its surrounding areas because of escalating violence, shootings and unrest.  The Government of Jamaica has imposed a State of Emergency in Kingston and St. Andrew.  Jamaican Defense Forces are engaged in an operation to arrest an alleged drug and weapons trafficker. 

Access to the Norman Manley International Airport has been blocked on an intermittent basis by gun battles between criminal elements and police.  A number of air flights into and out of Kingston have been canceled. 

Travel experts are urging travelers to Jamaica to follow the situation closely, but not to let the turmoil in Kingston automatically taint the rest of the island: They compared the situation to recent violence in Mexico, which has been centered near the country's border with the United States but has affected tourism in Cancun and other popular spots far away from the unrest. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 4, 2010) -- JetBlue gave a substantial boost to its Caribbean flight schedule this week, offering Boston travelers 25 percent more departures to cities including Aruba; Cancun, Mexico; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and San Juan, Puerto Rico starting May 3, 2010. 

Key summer schedule highlights:
* Three additional weekly flights from Boston to Aruba (for a total of five);
* Two additional weekly flights from Boston to Cancun (for a total of three);
* One additional weekly flight from Boston to San Juan, Puerto Rico (for a total of 11);
* One additional weekly flight from Boston to Montego Bay, Jamaica (for a total of two)
* Daily flights from Boston to Bermuda (total of 7 weekly);
* Daily flights from Boston to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (total of 7 weekly).

Increased flight frequencies will be available on these routes year-round. A full rundown of flights schedules and fares is available at JetBlue. read more »

(Dive Travel Business News - May 3, 2010) -- As of May 1, 2010, Air Jamaica has been taken over by Caribbean Airlines, the state-owned airline of Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidadian Government will invest $50 million in the airline and retain Air Jamaica's  seven routes and 1,000 employees.

Caribbean Airlines will continue to fly Air Jamaica’s 140 weekly flights between Montego Bay and Kingston to Baltimore, Fort Lauderdale, New York Kennedy, Philadelphia and Toronto. Caribbean Airlines expects to announce other routes soon. Tickets issued by Air Jamaica before May 1 will be honored, as will frequent-flyer miles. 

During a transition period, which is expected to take between six and 12 months, the company will be called Caribbean Airlines Air Jamaica Transition Ltd. Air Jamaica’s fleet will retain its logo during the transition. The Jamaican Government will have a 16 per cent share in Caribbean Airlines: Air Jamaica will keep its equipment and offices at the airports in Jamaica. read more »