Another regional airline has announced new routes to and from the Virgin Islands, further boosting the territory’s expanding connections to the rest of the Caribbean and beyond.
The Haiti-headquartered carrier Sunrise Airways plans to launch its first-ever flights to the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport in early December.
The Friday announcement comes amid a flurry of increased airline interest in the territory, which on Monday also welcomed the launch of new flights operated by the Trinidad-based Caribbean Airlines.
Twice weekly
Starting Dec. 2, the planned Sunrise Airways flights will operate twice weekly, originating in Antigua and providing non-stop service between Beef Island and Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The airline is also boosting connections from Antigua to Dominica and St. Kitts.
“The addition of these new flights marks another big step forward in realising our One Caribbean vision for optimised connectivity within the region,” said Sunrise Airways CEO Philippe Bayard. “We look forward to serving the traveling public in our new destinations and earning their trust.”
The VI plan comes after the carrier expanded other eastern Caribbean services in May.
“As we got off to a solid start serving Antigua, Dominica, St. Kitts and St. Lucia earlier this year, we are optimistic about the prospects for future growth and success across the broader east Caribbean,” Mr. Bayard said.
Sunrise Airways also operates routes that connect the eastern Caribbean with Miami and Panama.
Caribbean Airlines
Meanwhile, the Monday launch of Caribbean Airlines’ push into the VI improves the territory’s links to Trinidad, Barbados, Antigua and Puerto Rico.
The Trinidad-based regional carrier is using ATR 72-600 aircraft, which carry about 70 passengers.
Its four-times-per-week service is expected to provide direct flights between Beef Island and San Juan, Antigua and Barbados, with connecting flights on to Port of Spain, Trinidad.
During a ceremony on Monday at the Terrance B. Lettsome International Airport, Premier Dr. Natalio “Sowande” Wheatley welcomed the new flights .
“It is a significant step to boost the connectivity of the BVI with the world, but most importantly with our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean,” he said.
American Airlines
Other flight expansions are also in the works.
American Airlines announced in May that it will increase direct service between the VI and Miami to up to five round-trip flights a day by the end of the year to coincide with the tourism high season.
And the St. Maarten-based regional airline Winair has said it is considering expanding its operations in the VI as well.
Airport plans
Dr. Wheatley announced in September that part of a $100 million national loan would go towards improving facilities at the airport, but he did not provide specific details of the measures.
The comments came after officials said in July that his administration had decided to extend the runway at Beef Island by some 2,400 feet so that it can accommodate larger aircraft.
The decision — revealed on July 2 on a government Facebook broadcast — was taken before the conclusion of an ongoing business case and previously promised public consultations on the project.
The new business case has not been published to date, and no public meetings about the project have been held for years.