Antigua and Barbuda to witness more US flights due to increase in demand

Antigua and Barbuda: The nation will see an increase in flights from the United States as American carriers American Airlines announces an extension of its daily New York service from summer through to the early fall and winter season.

The airline’s new schedule will show extended daily service from August 16 to November 2 from John F Kennedy International Airport in New York to the Antigua VC Bird International Airport. The daily service was previously set to end on August 15 and then resume again on November 3, 2022. The new schedule means that Antigua will now see seven flights a week from August 16 to the end of 2022.

“Demand for Antigua and Barbuda is extremely strong at this moment, and from all indications and feedback from our airline and hotel partners who are working to keep up with the surge in consumer demand, we will have a significantly busy summer straight into winter similar to what was experienced last year”, said Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Tourism, Charles Fernandez.

In addition to the seven flights a week from New York, an increase from the previous one flight a week, American Airlines will also continue to operate twice-weekly flights from Miami.

“We have been consistent in our lobbying efforts to the airline, encouraging them to maintain the daily service during our shoulder period when they would have normally pulled back. Demand is at an all-time high, and we are pleased with the renewed confidence that American Airlines has placed in Antigua by putting on these additional flights. We now have some remarkably strong lift coming into Antigua”, exclaimed CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority Colin C James.

An analysis of the reported tourism arrivals for the year-to-date show Antigua and Barbuda steadily closing the gap on the 2019 tourism arrival figures for the same period. 2019 was recorded as the best year for tourism stayover arrivals to Antigua and Barbuda.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda has recently announced plans to update the country’s travel protocols further, allowing all unvaccinated travellers to visit Antigua and Barbuda with only a negative COVID-19 test result required. Presently vaccinated travellers can visit the country without the need to take a COVID-19 test.