DOMINICAN REP: Seaborne Airlines Commences Flights Between San Juan And Dominican Republic

Seaborne Airlines, which is owned and cooperatively operated by Silver Airways, launched flights between Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic on 15 February, with it launching a three times weekly service between San Juan (SJU) and Santiago de los Caballero (STI).

We are thrilled that Seaborne Airlines has returned to the Dominican market, said Jesus Medina, COO, Seaborne Airlines. Santiago shares important historical, cultural and economic ties with Puerto Rico and we are delighted to be providing safe, reliable and customer-friendly service for travellers in the region.

The carrier will operate the 494-kilometre sector three times weekly using its fleet of Saab 340s, with departures on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

No other carrier currently operates between the two airports.

Seaborne Airlines is a FAR Part 121 airline headquartered in San Juan, Puerto Rico. It was established in 1992 and operates domestic seaplane and land plane services.

In late 2008, Seaborne Airlines began land based flight service between St. Thomas, St. Croix, and San Juan TJIG Isla Grande Airport under the brand name Seaborne Airshuttle.

In January 2011, Seaborne Airlines began service to San Juan TJSJ Luis Munoz Marin International Airport. On December 18, 2013, Seaborne announced a headquarters change from Christiansted, St. Croix to San Juan, Puerto Rico, completed by March 2014.

Seaborne Airlines is owned and cooperatively operated by Silver Airways.

Seaborne has started codesharing flights with American Airlines, on routes which correspond in both timetables. This includes service from San Juan to all of Seaborne's destinations, excluding St. Croix and St. Thomas.

Miles from Seaborne (SeaMiles) are not currently convertible to AAdvantage miles, and cannot be used for travel on American. All passenger services, including baggage and assistance, are provided by American on codeshared flights.

Seaborne previously started codesharing flights with Air Europa between Las Americas International Airport at Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and Luis Munoz Marin International Airport at San Juan, Puerto Rico for passengers from their route Adolfo Suárez Madrid–Barajas Airport - Las Americas International Airport. This codeshare has ended.

As of September 30, 2014, Seaborne has an interline agreement with United Airlines.

As of March 30, 2015, Seaborne Airlines expanded American Airlines' codeshare agreement to include St. Thomas and St. Croix, and adding Anguilla Services April 30, 2015. Starting December 15, 2015, Seaborne will be flying to Antigua.

As of October 21, 2015, Seaborne Airlines begins codesharing with Jetblue Airways.

As of July 18, 2016, Seaborne Airlines launches codesharing with Delta Air Lines.

As of March 8, 2017, Seaborne Airlines launches codesharing with Vieques Air Link

On January 8, 2018, Seaborne Airlines announced its restructuring plan under the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code following the 2017 Atlantic hurricane season, specifically Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria.

The airline announced the acquirement of a $4.2 Million credit facility and has entered a purchase agreement with Silver Airways, which is subject to the Court's approval and potential overbids.

On March 28th, 2018 it was announced that Seaborne was bought by Silver Airways. As of April 24, 2018, Silver Airways completed the acquisition of Seaborne Airlines.

As of February 2019, the Seaborne Airlines fleet includes the following aircraft:

- De Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter 2

- Saab 340B 8

- Total 10


Tourism Observer

PUERTO RICO: Visit Aguadilla, The Garden of the Atlantic

Aguadilla Garden of the Atlantic is a city on the Caribbean island of Puerto Rico, a protectorate of the United States of America.

Aguadilla founded in 1775 by Luis de Cordova, is a city and municipality located in the northwestern tip of Puerto Rico, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, north of Aguada, and Moca and west of Isabela.

Aguadilla is spread over 15 wards and Aguadilla Pueblo, the administrative center of the city. It is a principal city of Aguadilla-Isabela-San Sebastian Metropolitan Statistical Area.

According to the 2010 Census, there were 60,949 people in the city. This represents a decrease of more than 3,000 from the 2000 Census.

The population density was 1,668.5 inhabitants per square mile (644.2/km2). There were 20,821 housing units. 23.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 15.5% were 65 years of age or older. The gender make up was 48.6% male and 51.4% female.

As a whole, Puerto Rico is populated mainly by people from a Creole born on the Island of European descent or Spanish and European descent, with small groups of African and Asian people.

Statistics taken from the 2000 census shows that 83.6% of Aguadillanos have Spanish or white origin, 5.0% are black, 0.2% are Amerindian, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 8.2% were Some other race, 2.8% Two or more races.

Aguadilla was the site of the U.S. military's Ramey Air Force Base for almost five decades. During this period, Aguadilla was home to the Strategic Air Command 72d Bombardment Wing, Heavy equipped with B-52s, an important strategic facility during the Cold War.

Though the infrastructure still exists, the airport was handed over to the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in 1973. The aerial facilities are now controlled by the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and comprise the Rafael Hernandez International Airport.

The barracks now host the Faro Inn Suites, a 79-room hotel. The Officer's Club now hosts the Faro Conference Center, a 22,000-square-foot (2,000 m2) meeting facility.

The hospital is now the Courtyard by Marriott Punta Borinquen Resort & Casino, a 150-room hotel with a casino and the first Marriott in Puerto Rico out of the San Juan Metropolitan Area.

Ramey also hosts the University of Puerto Rico – Aguadilla Campus and the Friedrich Froebel Bilingual School (K-9). The High School became Ramey Job Corps Campus and the elementary school became the Esther Feliciano Mendoza Middle School.

Centro de Adiestramiento y Bellas Artes (CABA) since 1979 has been the only public school of arts in Puerto Rico (7–12). Ramey is also the site of the new Ramey Skating Park and a new mariposario or butterfly farm and the Ramey Shopping Center.

There is still an active part of the base that hosts the Coast Guard Borinquen Air Station. There are also other government agencies based at Ramey.

They include the United States Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs & Border Protection's Office of Air and Marine and Office of Border Patrol, the Fuerzas Unidas de Rapida Accion - United Forces for Rapid Action of the Puerto Rico Police Department and the Puerto Rico National Guard.

There is also a post office, the Centro de Servicios al Conductor - Driver's Services Center, a bakery, and a Banco Popular de Puerto Rico location.

The beginning of San Antonio Village was back in the mid-19th century. It was composed by 60 families. Originally the place where these families were located was known as Bajura de Vadi, place later to be known as San Antonio.

In 1918, as a consequence of the 1918 San Fermín earthquake, the village was totally destroyed by a tsunami. The families suffered the struggles cause by this natural disaster, due by the proximity of the village to the shore.

The residents of the village decided re-localize the village in a higher area further from shore. The new location was what today is known as Ramey.

At this new location prosperity was not to be delayed. Various leaders and commercial owners of the time, took a step to carry the village forward. Most of the poor houses disappeared.

The village's infrastructure started its evolution. Luis R. Esteves and Juan Garcia established the first two theaters in the area. A new was social club form, known as Luz del Porvenir or Light of the Future.

A new school system was the pride of the village because it offered them the opportunity to give their children an education without having to go 9 miles (14 km) south downtown. There was also a new bakery and a post office, among other facilities. At this time, the village also began its Patron Festival.

The clothing industry was a major source of employment.

In September 1939, some 3,796 acres (15.4 km2) covered by sugar cane, was expropriated for the military at the cost of $1,215,000, in order to build an air base that came to be known as Ramey Air Force Base.

Since the foundation, the village has suffered three expropriations as a result of expansions to Ramey Air Force Base. This expropriations delayed and ended the plans to turn San Antonio into a town.

Today, the population of San Antonio consists of approximately ten thousand people. It has a modern square, a Puerto Rico State Police Station, a coliseum, an industrial park, public housing, a baseball park, a public school system, shops, and many other, charasteristics of a small town.

Also, as a characteristic of a town, has a flag and an emblem. The creation of the flag and emblem was done by Roberto Roman Acevedo.

Aguadilla is located in the northwest coast of the island of Puerto Rico, in the Western Coastal Plains. It is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean in the north, the municipalities of Isabela on the east, and Moca and Aguada in the south.

The area of the municipality is 35.5 square miles. It is mostly plain, with some notable hills being Jiménez (728 feet) and Viñet (689 feet). It has only one river, the Culebrinas, which separates Aguadilla from Aguada. Also Cedro Creek which separates Aguadilla from Isabela in the north.

Aguadilla is part of the Porta del Sol touristic region in Puerto Rico. The Porta del Sol website highlights Aguadilla's beaches for surfing.

According to the Department of Natural Resources, Aguadilla has the most beaches in the island, with nineteen. Some of the beaches are considered among the best for surfing, like Surfer's Beach, Gas Chambers, Crash Boat, Wilderness, among others.

Because of this, Aguadilla has served as host to surfing competitions, like the ISA World Championship in 1988.

Other attractions of the town are Las Cascadas Water Park and the Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena, which is the only ice skating complex in the Caribbean.

Tourist Landmarks and places in Aguadilla

- Aguadilla City Hall .Originally built in 1918. Reconstructed after the 1918 earthquake.

- Banyan Treehouse. Wooden House around a banyan tree. Any of its parts touches the tree.

- Campanitas de Cristal Fountain

- Cathedral San Carlos Barromeo

- Christopher Columbus Monument. Consists of a cross originally made of marble. It also had to be rebuilt after the earthquake.

- Cristobal Colon Park

- El Merendero

- El Parterre Jose de Jesus Esteves or Ojo de Agua

- Fisherman's Monument

- Jardin del Atlántico Square

- Las Cascadas (The Waterfalls) Water Park

- Old Sugar Pier

- Paseo Miguel Garcia Mendez

- Punta Borinquen Golf Course. Is an 18-hole golf course, originally built for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

- Punta Borinquen Lighthouse

- Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins

- Rafael Hernandez Monument

- Rafael Hernandez Square

- Ramey Skate Park New

- Tribunal Supremo (Old Courthouse)

- Youth Fountain Juan Pon

Tourist Beaches in Aguadilla

- Crash Boat Beach

- Mix

- Tamarindo

- Survival Beach

- Surfer's Beach

- Wilderness Beach (Las Ruinas)

- Rompeolas Beach

- Columbus Beach

- El Canto de Las Piedras Beach

- Crash Point Beach

- Gas Chambers Beach

- Wishing Well Beach

Aguadilla has several annual celebrations and festivals

- Velorio de Reyes. Celebrated mostly in January, they are a religious ceremony held as gratitude to the Three Kings for some answered prayer. They usually consist of hymns, prayers, and other religious expressions.

- Kite Festival. Held in April, it includes kiosks, music, and kite flying.

- Fiestas San Antonio held in April

- Verbena de Corrales held in May.

- Beach Festival held in June.

- Festival del Atun. Celebrated in July, it is a festival dedicated to the fishing of the tuna.

- Festival de la Musica held in July

- Fiestas Patronales San Carlos held in October

Aguadilla is home to several professional and amateur sports teams. The most notable are the Aguadilla Divas of the Female Superior Volleyball League, and the Aguadilla Sharks of the Superior Baseball League (Double-A).

The Divas play their home games in the Luis T. Diaz Coliseum in Downtown Aguadilla from January to March, while the Sharks play their home games at Luis A. Canera Marquez Stadium from February to May.

Aguadilla also had a professional basketball team called the Aguadilla Sharks, that played for the BSN league. This team was merged into the Cangrejeros de Santurce in 1998.

Aguadilla is also a place where many famous baseball players originate from. There are plans for a future ECHL Minor League Hockey franchise for the city.

The city is currently home to a variety of industrial and pharmaceutical plants like LifeScan, Symmetricom, Honeywell, and Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

Most of them are located at San Antonio Technological Park, the airport as Lufthansa Technik, while others like Suiza Dairy, Lockheed Martin and Productos La Aguadillana are located in Camaseyes Industrial Park.

Other industries that are based in Aguadilla are rubber, plastics, leather, textiles, steel, wood, machinery, and food processing.

The retail sector is also another source of economy in Aguadilla. Shopping malls like Aguadilla Mall, Aguadilla Shopping Center, Aguadilla Town Center, and others are some of the main commercial and retail centers of the city

Rafael Hernández Airport is located in the city of Aguadilla. In recent years, it has seen a resurgence as an international airport in the island, with several airlines planning flights to the US from Aguadilla.

You can fly directly from Newark via United Airlines, from Ft. Lauderdale and Orlando via Spirit Airlines, from New York-JFK and Orlando via jetBlue Airways, Rafael Hernandez International Airport.

Be aware, that these are major airlines which serve hundreds of destinations and as much one-stop flights to this Caribbean paradise.

JetBlue studied expansion for the 3 main airports in Puerto Rico, Aguadilla, Ponce, and San Juan and is the Airline that operates in all three airports. In the past American Airlines offered service to their hub in Miami from Rafael Hernandez Airport.

Miami, as well as other popular routes, currently lacks service from the airport. These markets include but are not limited to Houston, Dallas, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston, Hartford, and Baltimore.

These cities are home to some of the largest Puerto Rican communities in the United States, many of whom have ties to Aguadilla and the surrounding region.

From the airport take State-Road 107 South to Interstate PR-2. Exit towards SR-2R/Aguadilla Centro.

Blue Line offers service to and from all municipalities to the Public Transportation Terminal.

Interstate PR-2 at Rafael Henández Highway. Plans are underway for a new expressway, an expansion to existing Puerto Rico Highway 22 Jose de Diego Expressway from Hatillo and it will probably end at Puerto Rico Highway 111.

Walking along the roads of the city center, will offer you a great experience. This way you get to stop and try different foods, shop, and enjoy the beautiful bay views and beaches.

Publicos depart from the Public Transportation Terminal to all wards. There are different routes. These include Aguadilla-Borinquen, Aguadilla-Ramey, and Aguadilla-San Antonio. Price is $1.25 per trip.

Taxi service is available from the airport, hotels, and all wards.

Aguadilla is service by Interstate PR-2. I-PR-2 to the East connects it with Isabela, Quebradillas, Camuy, Hatillo, and eventually to San Juan via Arecibo.

To the South, it connects it with Aguada and Anasco. Other roads include State-Road 110 and 107 to Ramey. It is also connected by State-Road 111 to Moca, San Sebastian, Lares, and Utuado and State-Road 115 to Aguada and Rincon.

- Aguadilla City Hall or Alcaldia. Originally built in 1918. Reconstructed after the 1918 earthquake.

- Banyan Treehouse or Casa del Arbol. Wooden House around a Banyan tree. Any of its parts touch the tree.

- Campanitas de Cristal Fountain

- San Carlos Barromeo Cathedral

- Christopher Columbus Monument - This monument was built to commemorate Columbus' entrance to Puerto Rico through Aguadilla Bay. It consists of a cross originally made of marble. It also had to be rebuilt after the earthquake.

- El Crashboat. A beautiful beach with white sand and crystal waters along with a ship wreck at the far corner of the beach.

- El Merendero - A beautiful view of Aguadilla Bay and site of beautiful sunsets.

- El Parterre Jose de Jesus Esteves or Ojo de Agua. Historic plaza where a natural spring and former source of water for Spanish soldiers is located.

- Fisherman's Monument

- Jardin del Atlantico Square .A beautiful square with fountains and gathering spot of local merchants

- Old Sugar Pier

- Parque Colon. A public park with an enourmous tree house, fountain, swings, playgrounds, street vendors, and a typical Puerto Rican atmosphere. It is located across the street from the beach were the first Spanish ships landed in Puerto Rico and the park is were Christopher Columbus and the Taino were said to have first met.

- Paseo Miguel Garcia Mendez

- Punta Borinquen Lighthouse - Built by the United States Armed Forces in 1920 to substitute the one built by spain and destroyed by the earthquake.

- Punta Borinquen Lighthouse Ruins - Site of the old lighthouse built by Spain in 1889 and site of beautiful pictures.

- Rafael Hernandez Monument. A monument honoring world-famous composer Rafael Hernandez-Marin.

- Rafael Hernandez Square .This is the Main Square.

- Tribunal Supremo (Old Courthouse)

- Wilderness Beach. A beautiful beach with amazing Cliffs. It was once part of the Ramey Militry base. Here you can see the old Spanish ruins. And it's secluded location is great to escpe hge crowds. This beach is only accessibly on rainy days by 4X4 Vehicles.

- Youth Fountain Juan Ponce de Leon Park

Activities to engage in while in Aguadilla

- Aquatica Dive & Surf. A scuba diving, surfing, and stand up paddle boarding shop. You can sign up for lessons, certifications, and tours here as well as rent or buy equipment. Located on PR-110 at km 10.0, Gate 5 Maleza alta.

- Aguadilla Bowling Center. A bowling alley that features 18 computerized lanes, with a bar, cafeteria, and games-room. It is located off Interstate PR-2, at Plaza Victoria.

- Aguadilla Ice Skating Arena. The only ice skating facility in the Caribbean.

- Aguadilla Skating Park. Is a skateboarding facility located in Downtown Aguadilla.

- Caribbean Cinemas 6 - Aguadilla Mall

- Cristobal Colon Park - Family Park with kiosks, a boardwalk with a beautiful view of the city, playground, and a beach.
Las Cascadas or The Waterfalls Water Park - Many water attractions.

Among them the Crazy River, Wave Pool, and lots of slides. It is the largest water park in the Caribbean.

- Pro Bowl Recreation Center. A bowling alley featuring 8 computerized lanes, with a cafeteria and games-room. It is in Ramey Village.

- Punta Borinquen Golf Course. Is an 18 hole golf course, originally built for President Eisenhower.

- Ramey Skating Park this is the only concrete skateboarding facility in Puerto Rico located in Ramey Village a former Military Base.

- Zazones Creole Cuisine Restaurant/Lounge. Is the only restaurant in Puerto Rico that servers authentic creole dishes and to top, has a touch screen bar top.

Aguadilla is the commercial district of the region. It has four strategically located commercial centers along Interstate PR-2.

- Aguadilla Mall

- Aguadilla Shopping Center

- Plaza Ferram

- Plaza Victoria

There are also stores along the highway, in the downtown area, and along State-Road 107 including Plaza Borinquen.

Where to have meals in Aguadilla

- Amanda's Restaurant.

- Chris Restaurant.

- Cocina Creativa, Carr.110 km 9.8, Aguadilla,

- Dario’s Gourmet Restaurant.

- El Contrabando.

- El Pomodoro Restaurant.

- Faro Suites Bar & Grill.

- Golden Crown.

- Molina's Restaurant, Carr. #2 Km. 117.6 Bo. Ceiba Baja. Cozy atmosphere, good service. Extensive wine list.

- Mr. Mofongo Restaurant.

- Molina Restaurant, Carr.2 km.17.6, Aguadilla.

- Novecento Italian Bistro (Pizza, Pasta, Trendy Bar), Calle Agustan Stahl #61, Aguadilla. Hip and trendy pizzeria and a bar where the locals meets.

- One Ten Thai, Road 110 Outside Gate 5, Ramey Base. Wednesday-Sunday, 5pm-10pm. A small restaurant with a large client base, started out as an experimental take out from a private residence on weekends.

The popularity grew and so did the concept. They serve mostly thai and southeast asian food, with lots of veggies, fresh herbs and vibrant flavors.

- Restaurant Verde Luz.

- Rosalinda’s Restaurant.

- Santiago's Pizzaria.

- Ta-Buren Restaurant.

- Tasca de Guillo.

- Terramar.

- The Garden Restaurant.

- Tres Amigos, IHP Hotel El Faro

- Woodhaven Restaurant & Grill.

- Zazones Creole Cuisine Restaurant/Lounge it is the only restaurant in Puerto Rico that serves authentic creole dishes and to top, has a touch screen bar top.), ((2066.5 Avenida Pedro Albizu Campos Suite 6.

- Desecheo Restaurant (Local Food), PR 107 Pedro Albizu Campos Road. 11:00 am-11:00 pm. Authentic local food, fresh seafood and steaks in a cozy athmosphere. Open daily.

- Boca Loca Restaurant, serving Latin american Cuisine, 51 Stahl Street, Aguadilla Downtown. 11:00 am-11:00 pm. Specialists in Peruvian, Argentinian, Cuban, Puertorrican and Mexican cuisine. Cocktail lounge.

There are numorous bars and clubs all over the area.

- Black & White Lounge: 110 street, outside the Gate 5 of the Ramey Base.

- Novecento Italian Bistro a Trendy Bar & Cocktail lounge, 57 Sthal Street, Aguadilla Downtown. 11:00 am - 2:00 am. Live music Fridays and Saturdays until 2:00 am. Happy Hours on Thursdays. Open daily from 11 am.

- Desecheo (Restaurant and Bar), PR 107 Pedro Albizu Campos Street. Best mojitos and margaritas in town. Local food, appetizers, beers and a full bar. Live music on Fridays from 7 pm.

Accommodations in Aguadilla

- Courtyard by Marriot Aguadilla - Now Open - Located in historical Ramey, is a hotel with on-site casino, water park, restaurants and shopping ammenities

- Faro Inn Suites. Located in historical Ramey, is a prominent hotel with beautiful beach views.

- Hotel Cielomar. Located in historical Cuesta Nueva Street, is a hotel with beautiful views of Aguadilla Harbor and the historic Old Sugar Pier.

- Hotel Hacienda El Pedregal

- La Cima Hotel

- Parador El Faro

- Hotel Las Cascadas

Other places to visit

- Aguada

- Anasco

- Camuy

- Haillo

- Isabela

- Lares

- Las Marias

- Maricao

- Mayaguez

- Moca

- Quebradillas

- Rincon

- San Sebastian

Aguadilla has its own police department, Policía Municipal Aguadilla (Aguadilla City Police Department), located in Aguadilla Pueblo. The A.C.P.D. only has jurisdiction in the municipality of Aguadilla and provide service and protection to local citizens and travelers alike.

Aguadilla also hosts the Puerto Rico Police Department Command for its Region. This region covers Aguada, Aguadilla, Isabela, Moca, Rincon and San Sebastian.

It also hosts the PRPD Highway Patrol Division for its region, the FURA Division of the PRPD, the US Army Reserve Center, PR National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and the Border Patrol. It is also served by another PRPD station in San Antonio Village (Precinct 203 Ramey-San Antonio).

The city has a single correctional facility, Guerrero Correctional Institution, operated by the Puerto Rico Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

In recent years, Aguadilla has seen an increase in Type I crimes, which include murder, burglary, and theft.

Enjoy Your Visit To Aguadilla



Tourism Observer

USA: Spirit Airlines Started Major International Routes

From a tranquil rain forest, to a bustling metropolis, to the crystal waters of the Caribbean, the options for exotic culture and cuisine are endless as Spirit Airlines grows immensely in Orlando.

In an unprecedented expansion, starting October 4, 2018, Spirit will begin offering international service from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to 11 new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as 3 more domestic routes rolling out through the fall.

The announcement marks one of the largest expansions in the airline’s history and includes service to the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

With this announcement, Spirit will now provide additional service from Orlando to eight countries and two U.S. territories.

It comes just days after the airline announced new routes from Orlando to Asheville and Greensboro, North Carolina, as well as Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

Spirit will now provide the Orlando region with nonstop service to and from 38 destinations, with up to 49 daily flights across the U.S., the Caribbean, and Latin America.

We have been proud to serve Orlando for 25 years, and after more than doubling service last year, we are so proud to be expanding there yet again, said Bob Fornaro, Spirit’s Chief Executive Officer.

Orlando is now one of our largest markets, and we have no plans on stopping our growth. The region is not only a wonderful, family-friendly destination, but it is well-positioned to now serve as a gateway to the Carribean and Latin America.

Spirit Airlines has a long history here at Orlando International Airport, and today’s announced plans for more investment into this market are a direct reflection of that long-time business partnership, said Stan Thornton, Chief Operating Officer of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority.

Orlando to/from Starts: Frequency:

- Aguadilla, Puerto Rico (BQN) October 4 Daily

- Guatemala City, Guatemala (GUA)* October 4 4x weekly

- Panama City, Panama (PTY)* October 4 4x weekly

- Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ)* October 4 4x weekly until Nov. 7

Daily from Nov. 8

- San Pedro Sula, Honduras (SAP)* October 5 2x weekly

- San José, Costa Rica (SJO)* October 5 4x weekly until Nov. 7

- San Salvador, El Salvador (SAL)* October 6 2x weekly

- Bogota, Colombia (BOG)*ǂ November 8 Daily

- St. Thomas, USVI (STT) November 8 3x weekly

- Medellin, Colombia (MDE)* November 9 2x weekly

- Cartagena, Colombia (CTG)* November 10 2x weekly

- Asheville, North Carolina (AVL) September 7 3x weekly until Nov. 7

4x weekly from Nov. 8

- Greensboro, North Carolina (GSO) September 7 3x weekly until Nov. 7

4x weekly from Nov. 8

- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina (MYR) November 10 2x weekly

Subject to government approval.

- Based on data from the Department of Transportation and verified by an independent service.

- Sales of nonstop flights between Orlando and Bogota will commence at a date to be announced in the near future.


Tourism Observer

ST THOMAS: Spirit To Start Flights From Orlando To St Thomas

On the heels of the launch of new service between Fort Lauderdale and St Croix, Spirit Airlines has announced even more flights to the US Virgin Islands from the Sunshine State.

The Department of Tourism announced that Spirit Airlines will inaugurate service between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Cyril E. King Airport on St Thomas (STT) with three flights a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, beginning November 8, 2018.

The service augments existing daily flights between Fort Lauderdale and St Thomas.

These new flights represent the fruit of the hard work of our administration to add new service and increase flights to our destination, said US Virgin Islands Governor Kenneth Mapp.

New flights increase affordable opportunities for Virgin Islanders to travel to and from the mainland, while helping our bread and butter tourism industry recover, he added.

Working alongside our colleagues at the Virgin Islands Port Authority, we continue to invest heavily in our airlift development strategy and value our partnership with Spirit as they continue to prioritize travel to and from our territory, said Beverly Nicholson-Doty, Commissioner of Tourism for the US Virgin Islands.

As part of a wider announcement, Spirit will begin offering international service from Orlando International Airport to 11 new destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as three more domestic routes rolling out through the fall.

The announcement marks one of the largest expansions in the airline’s history and includes service to the US territories of Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands.

We have been proud to serve Orlando for 25 years, and after more than doubling service last year, we are so proud to be expanding there yet again, said Bob Fornaro, Spirit’s chief executive officer.

Orlando is now one of our largest markets, and we have no plans on stopping our growth. The region is not only a wonderful, family-friendly destination, but it is well-positioned to now serve as a gateway to the Caribbean and Latin America.

With Spirit’s expanding network, the airline continues to improve its on-time performance and guest satisfaction, while building upon its larger commitment to invest in the guest experience.

The airline recently announced that state-of-the-art, high-speed Wi-Fi connectivity will be installed on its entire fleet by summer of 2019.


Tourism Observer

Best Caribbean Highlife Destinations To Visit

Cancun, Mexico

Cancun has a well-deserved reputation as a spring break destination, and that’s because it has some of the Caribbean’s most bustling nightlife spots.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

The closest place the Caribbean has to New York City. From Old San Juan to Condado, there are terrific bars and clubs to enjoy.

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

It’s not just the Dominican Republic’s capital — it’s the country’s nightlife capital, too. Bars, clubs, casinos, dancing and what might be the Caribbean’s most diverse live music scene.

Port of Spain, Trinidad

Port of Spain is the most developed city in the English-speaking Caribbean, and it shows. And there aren’t just a host of night spots to check out (especially in St James, the so-called “City That Never Sleeps”). There’s also Port of Spain’s famous, all-night street food.

Willemstad, Curacao

We’re big fans of many of the bars and clubs in historic Willemstad and the surrounding areas. And Willemstad is perhaps the most walkable city in the entire Caribbean.

Montego Bay, Jamaica

Much of the action here after dark is on Gloucester Avenue on what’s known as the “hip strip.” From live theatre to sports bars to jazz, you’ll find it all here.

Philipsburg, St Maarten

St Maarten has a number of seriously good bars, and, of course, a number of casinos, where you can always have a great time, no matter the hour.

Cabarete, Dominican Republic

The Caribbean’s bohemian destination never shuts off — and the best thing is, you can walk to everything, most of which is set right on the beach.

Oranjestad, Aruba

You’ll find much of the island’s nightlife in its many casinos, but bar hopping is very much alive and well here, from intimate dives to large clubs.

St Lawrence Gap, Barbados

Yes, Barbados. It’s not the first thing you think of about the island, but the St Lawrence Gap area in Christ Church has some of the best nightlife in the Caribbean — and bars that are open as much as 24 hours.

PUERTO RICO: Visit San Juan In Puerto Rico

When you visit Puerto Rico, you only need to follow one rule. Gadiel Amilec, a cook who has a pop-up series called El Taller, explains: “Don’t act surprised when the server responds to you in English, and never ask where they learned to do so.”

It’s good advice, since—maybe because of the whole beautiful island beaches thing—a surprising number of people apparently don’t know that the country is a U.S. Territory. Time for a geography lesson, boys.

If you’re American, your money and your phone will work just like they do back home. When you take a perfect shot of an icy cold can of Medalla in the sand, you don’t have to return to your hotel’s wifi to post it to Instagram.

Where you should spend that money is a whole other matter. There’s no shortage of lists telling you about the best restaurants in the capital city of San Juan, so if you’re paying even the slightest bit of attention, you won’t miss José Enrique.

Looking for cocktails? The go-to is Old San Juan’s La Factoria, listed among the World’s 50 Best. But if you want to try something off the well-beaten, James Beard–nominated path, Puerto Ricans will provide you the best direction.

The first bit of advice, from the co-owner of La Factoria Leslie Cofresi: “Rent a car and leave San Juan,” he says. “It's cheap and there's so much to see outside of the metropolitan area.”

Driving is the best way to see the small island, where the longest trip you can take will be about two hours to the west coast.

Once you get your loaner and cue up local acts Los Wálters or Buscabulla on Spotify, heed this advice from some locals on ways to avoid the piña colada-slurping, tchotchke-buying crowd:

Casa Vieja
26 PR-149, Ciales, 00638
Take that car to the center of the island for a taste of what everyone will tell you is the essence of Puerto Rican cuisine. “Casa Vieja is the classic chinchorro small bar,” says Rafael N. Ruiz of La Mafia, the island’s popular Spanish-language food blog and podcast. “It’s about going out there, escaping your reality, eating frituritas (fritters) and asopao’ (traditional soup) all day, enjoying cold national beers or drinks while listening classic salsa. No heat. No sand. No piña colada. No traditional tourist experience. It’s simple. It’s the heart of Puerto Rico.”

CLMDO and La Central
If you have the time, drive out to the west coast where New Jersey–bred, ex-photographer Wilson Davalos has opened CLMDO—a take on colmado, the island’s word for bodegas—as a small-plates destination offering things like lamb with pea purée and feta-sprinkled pumpkin.

La Central serves up that side of the island’s best cocktails, like the Mal Caribe featuring rum, amaro, orangelo juice, and ginger-turmeric beer.

Cafeteria El Cerezal
1590 Cll Guadiana, San Juan, 00926
For a taste of tradition without leaving the capital city, chef Sebastian Ramírez of Condado gastropub Parcela recommends Cafeteria El Cerezal. “They do the best empanada and chicken or beef schnitzel kind of deal,” he says, “served with the classic staples: rice, plantain, mofongo.”

Pernilería Los Proceres
If you want pork—the island’s specialty—but would prefer a more modern expression, visit Mario Juan, who made his name throwing pop-up dinners by the name of ARETE. “His dinners were a dream,” says Spoon Food Tours owner Paulina Salach. “A few months ago, he opened PLP in Lote 23.

His pork sandwiches are killer, but he also does specials like tartare—almost as good as the one from Estela in New York—cured local fish, and more.”

Bodegas Compostela
If you want one of the best wine lists in town and to eat where chefs are most excited to splurge on octopus carpaccio and jamón ibérico, head to this Spanish restaurant that’s been open since 1982.

The opening year is present in the design, which feels a bit retro (or tropical American Psycho)—but that’s not to the detriment of the food. This is the spot to hit when you’ve had enough rum.

El Local
When you’ve finished up dinner at José Enrique or Santaella, head over to this dive, located a ten-minute walk away from La Placita de Santurce. You just might wander into punk rock karaoke. “The drinks are mad cheap,” says Gallo Negro chef María Mercedes Grubb. “They have a karaoke night where you can belt it out to Queen, New Order, The Smiths, or Bowie. Or you can hang outside smoking cigarettes.”

LUCA
When you’re wandering Old San Juan, stop into this sleek, minimalist little shop for souvenirs actually made on the island. “They have a very well-curated selection of beautiful local jewelry, objects, and clothing,” says Kali Jean Solack, owner of Lote 23’s excellent coffee kiosk Café Regina.

Here you can pick up a tostone-masher made with locally sourced wood—the perfect gift to bring back home for yourself so you can have the crispy, salty, twice-fried plantain dish whenever you like.

Santurce Es Ley
This (almost) yearly art and music event leaves much of the Santurce neighborhood covered in giant murals, but for the majority of it, walk up and down Calle Cerra for art both political and non—from anything as specific as a building-size flag to a chrome rabbit.

CARIBEAN: Tourism Shoots Up

The Expedia group reported that travel demand to luxury properties throughout the Caribbean increased in 2016. When compared to 2015, overall demand for four and five-star rated properties throughout the Caribbean increased by nearly 20 percent in 2016.

Likewise, the Caribbean’s leading destinations also experienced luxury demand growth including the Dominican Republic (15 percent), Puerto Rico (5 percent), Jamaica (nearly 30 percent), Aruba (nearly 20 percent), the Bahamas (10 percent) and Turks and Caicos (35 percent) in 2016 when compared to the previous year.

Per a recent report by the Caribbean Tourism Organization, Caribbean tourism accounted for nearly 30 million arrivals to the region in 2016 with visitor spending hitting new heights, representing a unique opportunity for Caribbean hoteliers specializing in luxury travel.

In 2016, the Caribbean destination with the highest luxury inventory was Paradise Island, with more than 80 percent of the Bahamian island’s hotels being four and five-star property.

Additional destinations where the majority of hotel inventory was comprised of four to five-star rated resorts included St. Martin (nearly 80 percent), Punta Cana (nearly 80 percent), Turks and Caicos (more than 75 percent) and St. John Virgin Islands (nearly 75 percent).

With four and five star properties representing more than 50 percent of Expedia group’s travel demand throughout the Caribbean, the company proudly offers hotel partners insights on mobile travel searches and booking patterns, how luxury travelers book, and how they shop and choose hotels.

The Expedia market management teams partner with hoteliers to effectively engage the luxury market across devices and throughout the entire travel planning process. This valuable information is readily available to partners to ensure that their strategy targets this niche market.

While the Caribbean’s various destinations attract a diverse range of travelers from around the world, according to Expedia group data the United States represented the largest market for the region’s luxury segment followed by Canada, the United Kingdom, Brazil and France in 2016.

The Caribbean’s luxury segment received a significant influx of Swiss travelers in 2016, who attributed to an increase of nearly 175 percent when compared to 2015. Additional international markets with noteworthy year over year increases in demand in 2016 include the Netherlands with nearly 50 percent growth and Germany with more than 40 percent growth.

“We’ve seen luxury travel continue to thrive throughout the world, including the Caribbean,” said Demetrius Canton, Director of Market Management for the Caribbean, the Expedia group. “Expedia works closely with hotel partners seeking to tap into new and growing markets, including the luxury segment, by utilizing the company’s innovative technology and global marketing strategies.”

Expedia group can also report that in addition to boasting higher average daily rates in 2016, luxury properties represented an opportunity for hoteliers in the Caribbean as four and five-star resorts featured longer booking windows (average of 55 day) and lengths of stays (4.3 days) when compared to one to three-star hotels which saw an average booking window of 37 days out and an average length of stay of 3.2 days.

By working with the Expedia group, luxury hotels throughout the Caribbean gain exposure from the more than 200 travel booking sites in more than 75 countries in 35 languages, in addition to a myriad of mobile sites and apps, from brands such as Expedia®, Hotels.com®, Travelocity®, Orbitz®, Hotwire®, Egencia®, Expedia® Affiliate Network and others.

USA: Miami Beach Hit By Zika Outbreak

Mosquitoes have begun spreading the Zika virus in a second part of Miami — the popular tourist destination of Miami Beach — Florida officials announced Friday.

As a result, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanded its advice to travelers, advising pregnant women to avoid the parts of Miami Beach where the virus is spreading. In addition, women and men who have traveled to the area should wait at least eight weeks to try to get pregnant even if they didn't catch Zika during their visit.

The agency also went a step further, advising pregnant women and their sexual partners "who are concerned about potential Zika virus exposure" that they "may also consider postponing nonessential travel to all parts of Miami-Dade county."

That decision to issue a warning about the entire city was prompted by the agency's concern that there may be other outbreaks in other parts of Miami-Dade that haven't been identified yet, CDC Director Thomas Frieden told reporters during a briefing.

"What we are doing is stepping back and saying, 'There have now been multiple instances of local transmission,' " Frieden said. "We will always err on providing more information to the public."

Five Zika cases have been linked to the new outbreak in Miami Beach, involving three men and two women from Miami, New York, Texas and Taiwan, officials said. That brings the total number of Zika cases that have been spread by mosquitoes in Florida to 36.

"We believe we have a new area where local transmissions are occurring in Miami Beach," Gov. Rick Scott told reporters at a news conference.

Officials believe the virus is only spreading in a 1 1/2 mile part of Miami Beach, but that area includes the much-visited South Beach area, Scott said.

The tourism industry in Florida is particularly concerned with the spread of Zika and the impact it may have on businesses. On Thursday, Scott announced measures designed to limit Zika, including offering mosquito spraying free of charge to businesses in Miami-Dade County.

"Tourism is a driving force of Florida's economy and this industry has the full support of our state in the fight against the Zika virus," Scott said in a statement.

The new outbreak comes as officials believe they are bringing the first outbreak in the trendy Wynwood neighborhood under control. Officials announced Friday they had cleared three new blocks of Wynwood because there is "no continued evidence of transmission" there. Fourteen blocks had been cleared earlier.

But Frieden noted that officials expect it will be harder to contain the outbreak in Miami beach for several reasons. The area's high-rise buildings mean the aerial spraying that has been working in Wynwood won't work in Miami Beach. In addition, it will be more difficult to convince people to wear long sleeves and pants in a part of the city where people go to spend time on the beach, he said.

The Wynwood outbreak prompted the CDC to take the unprecedented step of advising pregnant women to stay away from the area. It was the first time the CDC had ever advised people to avoid any part of the continental United States because of an infectious disease.

In response to the Miami Beach outbreak, Scott said he had requested an additional 5,000 Zika tests, additional lab personnel to expedite testing and 10,000 more Zika prevention kits for pregnant women.

Separately, Puerto Rico is reporting a surge in Zika cases. The island's health department said Friday that 2,496 more cases had been confirmed in Puerto Rico over the last week. That marks the highest weekly tally since the virus was first detected on the island in December. The health department also announced the first death in Puerto Rico from Guillain-Barre syndrome linked to Zika.

The latest cases bring the total number of laboratory confirmed Zika cases in Puerto Rico to 13,186. Of those, 1,106 are pregnant women.

BELIZE: Tropic Air Receives Prestigious ISSA Certification

Tropic Air is now the first country in Latin America to receive International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Standard Safety Assessment (ISSA) certification. This prestigious certification came after IATA conducted a rigorous audit on Tropic Air aimed at promoting safeness in air travel.

Tropic Air was honored during the Forum of Leaders of the Latin American and Caribbean Air Transport Association (ALTA) ceremony held in Puerto Rico.

At the ceremony, it was explained that the ISSA Certification was designed in order to assist smaller airlines who do not qualify for the World Safety Record of the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA).

The World Safety Record of the IOSA is given to larger aircraft with more than 5,700 kilograms of weight and business model adapted to the IOSA requirements. The ISSA standard provides the same benefit for safety and operational efficiency as IOSA.

Proof of the certification was handed over Steven Schulte, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tropic Air by Tony Tyler, director general and CEO of IATA. “Earlier this year we launched the ISSA. While ISSA is not a substitute for IOSA, it is a valuable operational benchmark.

Tropic Air was among the first airlines to express interest in ISSA and they helped us to beta-test the standard, so congratulations to Tropic Air,” said Tyler. Also present at the ceremony was Lindsay Garbutt, Director of the Civil Aviation Administration of Belize.

Tropic Air was founded in 1979 as had since become the leading local airline of Belize.

Baggage Liability

Reimbursement for expenses will be based upon acceptable proof of claim. Contact the Baggage Resolution Service Center for more information.

For travel within or between the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, United's liability for any form of damage as a result of loss, damage or delay in delivery of a customer's personal property shall be limited to the fair market value at the time of loss, damage or delay and will not exceed $3,500.00 USD/CAD per customer, except for wheelchairs and other assistive devices.

For international travel to which the Warsaw Convention applies (including domestic* portions of international travel), United's liability is limited to approximately $9.07 USD/CAD per pound up to $640.00 USD/CAD per bag for checked baggage and $400.00 USD/CAD per customer for unchecked baggage.

For international travel to which the Montreal Convention applies (including domestic* portions of international travel), United's liability is limited to 1,131 SDR (Special Drawing Rights) per customer for checked and unchecked baggage. Exchange rates are available online at imf.org.

When checking baggage for a flight, a customer may declare a higher value than the maximum limit of liability. See Excess Valuation for additional details. Note that declaration of a higher value may not be allowed for some items.

Avoid packing high-value, fragile or perishable items in your checked baggage. For domestic* travel, United is not liable for loss, damage or delay in delivery of high-value, fragile or perishable items. See Fragile and Perishable Items for detailed listings of excluded items. For international travel, United's liability is limited as per above.

In the course of normal handling, your baggage may show evidence of use. United is never liable for destruction, loss or damage that results from an inherent defect, quality or vice of the baggage. For domestic* travel, United is not liable for conditions that result from normal wear and tear such as:

- Minor cuts, scratches, scuffs, dents and soil
- Damage to wheels, feet, extending handles and items of fragile or perishable nature
- Damage as a result of over-packed bags
- Loss of external locks, pull straps, security straps, or zipper tabs
- Manufacturer’s defects
* Domestic travel includes travel within or between the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Zika News: Pregnant Passengers Get Refunds From Airlines

Travellers worried about the implications of flying to Latin America amid growing concerns about the Zika virus should be able to amend their travel plans without expense – as airlines and holiday firms acknowledge the threat from the mosquito-borne infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” regarding the virus, and warned that it could affect up to four million people in the Americas. Its epicentres are Brazil and Ecuador, but cases have also been reported in Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde.

While the WHO has also stated that there “should be no restrictions on travel or trade with countries, areas and/or territories with Zika virus transmission”, tourists who are pregnant and who wish to alter their travel arrangements should be able to do so for free if they act quickly.

The Zika virus is mainly an issue for pregnant travellers, as, while it causes flu-like symptoms of fever and headaches in adults and children, it can be devastating for the human foetus – leading to babies born with defects that include abnormally small heads.

The majority of the big airlines have been united in their response to this threat – with British Airways allowing passengers a month-long window to reorder their travel plans.

A spokesperson for British Airways says: “If a pregnant customer is due to travel up to and including February 29, but they no longer wish to travel, they can change their booking free of charge, and delay their journey or amend to an alternative destination.”

“This applies to flights to Brazil, Mexico, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.”

This advice includes flights booked with affiliate airline Iberia.

Virgin Atlantic is taking a similar line, stating that “we are closely monitoring reports of cases of Zika virus in Barbados, Mexico and other destinations in the Caribbean and South America.” The airline is offering refunds to pregnant passengers due to fly to all affected destinations – including countries which it does not fly to directly, but offers connections to, such as Colombia, Panama and the United States territory of Puerto Rico.

Lufthansa has said that pregnant passengers and - unusually - their travelling companion, can alter an existing booking to any of the affected countries for free, stating that “this policy applies to all flights from or to Latin and Central America, and Caribbean countries, from January 28 until March 21 2016. Tickets must be issued on or before January 28 2016.”

This concession also applies to affiliated carriers Austrian Airlines and Swiss.

Airlines on the other side of the Atlantic have also reacted to the threat from the virus.

United Airlines has stated that “we are offering customers who are travelling to the affected regions the opportunity to rebook at a later date or receive a full refund.”

American Airlines is offering a full refund to pregnant passengers if they are flying to El Salvador, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala.

Delta says that pregnant customers can alter their flights to alternative destinations, change their dates or receive a refund – but “changes need to be made by February 29.”

Holiday companies are also responding to customers’ fears about the health scare – with Thomas Cook saying it will accept changes to existing bookings until the start of May.

“Thomas Cook is currently allowing amendments to an alternative destination for anyone who is pregnant and due to travel on a Thomas Cook charter holiday to the affected areas, up to and including April 30 2016,” a spokesperson says.

“We are contacting all customers due to travel to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde, up to and including April 30, to advise them of the situation, and offer assistance – prioritising those departing over the next few days.”

Thomson has outlined a similar strategy, stating that “customers due to travel with us to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia and Martinique, who would like to amend to an alternative destination, and have a doctor’s note confirming their pregnancy, can do so without incurring an amendment fee.”

Travel insurance policies should also shield holidaymakers from any costs of having to alter their plans due to the Zika situation – with policies purchased prior to the outbreak likely to offer cover. However, tourists also should check the small print on their policies.

“If one of our customers is currently pregnant and has booked a holiday to Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, St Martin, Suriname or Venezuela, they would be eligible to make a cancellation claim – as long as they purchased the policy before January 20,” advises Rob Clarkson of Post Office Money Insurance.

However, non-pregnant travellers may find that they are less protected in this scenario.

“If one of our customers is not pregnant then, as the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to this area, there would be no cover for cancellation,” Mr Clarkson adds.

“It is important that any customers planning on holidaying in countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks do their research before they travel, and take all necessary precautions.”

Byron Shirto, chairman of the Latin America Travel Association, says: “In line with the current recommendations of the Foreign Office and National Health Network and Centre (NHNC), we would advise pregnant travellers to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are currently reported available via the Pan European Health Organisation to consult a health professional prior to travel."

CHILE: LATAM Airlines RefundsTo Pregnant Travelers To Zika-hit Region

LATAM Airlines became the latest carrier to offer refunds or the option of itinerary changes to pregnant women planning to travel to Latin American and Caribbean countries impacted by the Zika virus.

Flight reservations have not been affected so far by worries about Zika, a spokeswoman for the airline said. But hotels and cruise operators who serve the region have said they are seeing growing concerns from travelers.

An outbreak of the mosquito-borne virus, linked to brain damage in thousands of babies in Brazil, is likely to spread to all countries in the Americas except for Canada and Chile, the World Health Organization (WHO) said this week.

American Airlines Group Inc more than doubled its previous list of destinations for which it was offering refunds to pregnant travelers, adding Puerto Rico, Martinique and four countries to an initial list of five Central American airports.

Chile-based LATAM Airlines, Latin America's largest carrier, said it would offer refunds or the opportunity to change destination to medically certified pregnant women and their traveling companions booked on international flights to Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and other affected Latin American and Caribbean countries.

"For pregnant passengers that have already initiated their trips to the aforementioned destinations, they can return early, subject to seat availability, at no extra charge," the airline said in a statement.

U.S. airline United Airlines also said this week it was allowing customers with reserved tickets for travel to impacted regions to postpone their trips or obtain refunds with no penalty.

In a similar move, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd and rival Carnival Corp have said they would allow expectant mothers covered by the CDC advisories to reschedule cruises to a later date or switch to an itinerary outside the affected countries.

LATAM Airlines, a group formed by Chile's LAN and Brazil's TAM, had not yet seen an impact on reservations due to concerns about the outbreak, a spokeswoman for the company said on Wednesday.

Avianca, the region's second biggest airline, and smaller Brazilian carrier Gol made similar comments on Tuesday.

However, the outbreak presents another potential headache for LATAM, which is already struggling with currency fluctuations, labor disputes and a fast declining Brazilian economy. The company is expected to post a net annual loss for the third year in a row when it reports 2015 results in March, according to Thomson Reuters estimates.

PUERTO RICO: US Official Warns Of Bomb Risk On Flights From Puerto Rico

Congressman Michael McCaul

Against the backdrop of suspicions that an explosive device brought down a Russian airliner over Egypt on October 31, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee has voiced concerns that flights from Puerto Rico to the US mainland may be vulnerable to having bombs placed on board.

Representative Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican, said “In Puerto Rico, we have many cases of prosecution of corruption, of putting drugs and weapons on airplanes inbound to the United States.

“It wouldn’t take a whole lot to put a bomb on one of those airplanes as well. And I think that’s a main thing from the homeland security standpoint, we’re really worried about these planes coming into the United States,” he added.

The lawmaker was commenting on domestic security threats following the loss of the Airbus 321 that crashed in Sinai killing all 224 people on board.

Sinai Province, a group affiliated to Islamic State, has repeatedly claimed that it brought down Metrojet Flight 9268, flying from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh to the Russian city of St Petersburg.

CARIBBEAN: CTO To Honour Two Airlines Serving The Caribbean

The Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO) will honour Air Canada and Caribbean Airlines for their decades of service to the Caribbean.

The CTO will present awards to the two airlines during Caribbean Week Canada for longstanding service from that market. Both airlines have demonstrated commitment and dedication to the growth and development of Caribbean tourism by providing up to six decades of service, according to the CTO’s director of USA Inc Sylma Brown.

“Caribbean Airlines has demonstrated continued dedication to the growth and development of Caribbean tourism by providing more than five decades of intra-regional and international service, while Air Canada has shown its commitment to the region’s tourism sector by providing over six decades of outstanding uninterrupted service to the Caribbean,” said Ms. Brown, head of the CTO’s New York office which is charged with organizing Caribbean Week Canada.

The decision to recognize the two carriers was made following discussions with CTO member countries’ national tourist office representatives in Canada who felt strongly that both airline partners should be among the entities recognized during Caribbean Week for their strong partnership , Ms. Brown revealed.

The awards will be presented at the Caribbean Tourism Awards Luncheon on Tuesday 17 November at Rosewater in Toronto.

Caribbean Week Canada is supported by Air Canada Vacations, Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Caribbean Airlines, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Hibiscus International, Jamaica, Kalinago Beach Resort (Grenada), Puerto Rico, Saint Lucia, St. Kitts, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, The Atrebor Group, Transat Tours Canada, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos.

NORWAY:Norwegian Starts Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) and Stockholm Arlanda (ARN)

Crew and passengers enjoyed the route launch cake at Oslo Gardermoen used to mark the start of flights to San Juan in Puerto Rico on 1 November. Weekly flights are operated by the LCC’s 787-8s.

Norwegian used the second week of the W15/16 season to start six new routes from five of its bases – including long-haul services from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) and Stockholm Arlanda (ARN).

The average sector length of these routes is 4,290 kilometres (up from 2,251 last week) – with the longest route being the 8,530-kilometre Stockholm Arlanda to Las Vegas (LAS) airport pair (last week it was the 4,126-kilometre Gran Canaria to Karlstad route), while the shortest was again a Spanish domestic rotation, this time with the 1,410-kilometre link from Malaga (AGP) to Gran Canaria (LPA).

The average weekly frequency of the new routes was 1.8, down significantly from last week’s result of four. This was due in no small part to the two new weekly long-haul operations.

PUERTO RICO: Adam Stewart Named Caribbean Hotelier Of The Year

Chief Executive Officer of Sandals Resort International (SRI) Adam Stewart copped the Caribbean Hotelier of the Year Award which was presented by the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA).

The presentation was made during the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF), which took place from October 2 – 4 at El Conquistador Resort, A Waldorf Astoria Resort in Puerto Rico.

Stewart is the 35th recipient of the award and is the highest professional honor bestowed in hotel and resort operations in the Caribbean.

The award recognizes excellence in all areas of operations, as well as a commitment to the training and development of staff, contributions to the community and a demonstrated commitment to sound environmental practices. It also acknowledges each recipient's active role in both national and regional issues affecting Caribbean tourism.

COSTA RICA: Volaris Connects To Costa Rica

Volaris on 10 September added San Jose in Costa Rica to its international network. Cutting the celebratory ribbon were: Jose Luis Suarez, Retail and Customer Service, Volaris; Miguel Aguiñiga, Senior Sales Manager, Volaris; Hermes Navarro, Chief of Airlines and Investment Attraction, Volaris; and Maria Eugenia Renauld, Costa Rica Ambassador to Mexico.

The airline will serve Costa Rica twice-weekly from both Cancún and Guadalajara.

Volaris has added Costa Rica to its international network with the introduction on 10 September of twice-weekly flights from both Cancún (CUN) and Guadalajara (GDL) to San Jose (SJO) using the airline’s A320s.

Neither the 1,260-kilometre route from Cancún, nor the 2,354-kilometre route from Guadalajara, faces any direct competition. Both routes will operate on Thursdays and Sundays.

Costa Rica becomes the LCC’s fourth international market after Guatemala, Puerto Rico and the US.

PUERTO RICO: Seaborne Airlines Announces Restart Of Service to Dominica

This will include resumption of the American Airlines code-shared connecting service from San Juan's Luis Munoz Marin International Airport to Douglas Charles International Airport (DOM) in Dominica, on a daily basis, as well as interline connecting service to JetBlue Airways, Delta and United Airlines, also through San Juan.

In the wake of Tropical Storm Erika, all passenger flights to Dominica were cancelled due to weather-related damage at Douglas Charles International Airport. Seaborne operated 92 relief flights from August 23 to September 22 into and out of the region, to include 76 flights into and out of Guadeloupe (PTP) and 18 non-passenger flights into and out of Dominica's Canefield Airport (DCF) and Douglas Charles International Airport in conjunction with Ross University.

Many hundreds of medical students, faculty and relief workers were transported during this time, allowing students to start their studies and aiding recovery efforts. During this period, Seaborne Airlines also transported water and other needed relief items to assist with the recovery effort.

Seaborne Airlines will continue to support the island's recovery efforts. As previously announced, Seaborne will be accepting items such as over-the-counter medical supplies, non-perishable goods, men's and/or women's underwear, bedding supplies, towels, and toiletries.

These items can be delivered to Seaborne Airlines San Juan counter at Luis Munoz Marin International Airport or at Seaborne Headquarters in San Juan, Puerto Rico.