Inaugural Flight by Canada Jetlines

The Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, St. James, welcomed the inaugural Canada Jetlines flight from Toronto, Canada, on December 9.

This flight, which carried some 85 visitors to the island, is the second inaugural flight to land at the airport so far this month, as the facility also welcomed a Norse Atlantic Airway flight from the United Kingdom on December 1.

The Canada Jetlines flight is set to arrive at Sangster three times per week.

During the arrival ceremony, Regional Manager at the Jamaica Tourist Board (JTB), Western, Odette Dyer, outlined that the arrival signified the hard work that has been put in by Regional Director of JTB Canada, Angella Bennett, as well as the team from Jamaica Vacations (JAMVAC) and the staff of MBJ Airports, operators of Sangster.

For her part, Ms. Bennett welcomed the visitors and crew members to the island, noting that the flight’s arrival served as a significant milestone for both the airline and the destination.

“Our country is entering into a strong new alliance with one of Canada’s leisure carriers and an affordable airline. Our Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, recently announced an ambitious new tourism growth for us, targeting half a million [Canadian] arrivals for 2025. Canada Jetlines will play an integral part in helping to boost the arrivals from Canada, as the airline is expected to bring approximately 10,000 travellers to the island this winter,” Ms. Bennett said.

She noted that the introduction of the new flight is more than an aircraft taking to the skies; it is a gateway of unlocking “the untold treasures of destinations waiting to be explored”.

“As we embark on this journey, let us recognise the profound impact that the increased connectivity has on the tourism landscape,” Ms. Bennett said.

For his part, Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay, Councillor Richard Vernon, said that the second City continues to be a destination of choice for airlines.

“We continue to grow with the airlines, and we want to ensure that we keep it that way. I know that [Canada Jetlines] is a relatively small airline you are developing, and Jamaica has been chosen as one of your destinations. That speaks to the confidence in Jamaica as a destination. This couldn’t have been possible without the hard work of those in the hospitality and tourism industries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of MBJ Airports, operators of Sangster, Shane Munroe, said the new connection between the two cities underscores the demand for travel and opens more opportunities for further cultural exchange and economic prosperity.

“This new route for Canada Jetlines is also a significant boost in our efforts to recover traffic from Toronto to pre-pandemic levels. This additional capacity will provide options for travellers, stimulate tourism and of course contribute to the growth of the economy for both countries,” Mr. Munroe outlined.

In the meantime, Chief Executive Officer of Canada Jetlines, Eddie Doyle, said the airline is looking forward to playing a part in increasing the number of Canadian travellers to the island.