PUERTO RICO: Seaborne And JetBlue Become Codeshare Partners Across The Caribbean

Seaborne Airlines and JetBlue Airways, the largest carrier in San Juan, have finalized terms to begin a codeshare marketing relationship, expanding upon the carriers’ successful interline agreement in place since 2013. The codeshare will help facilitate improved connectivity between two of the top airlines in the Caribbean, subject to receipt of all regulatory approvals.

“We are excited to expand our partnership with JetBlue. Providing improved connectivity in our common hub of San Juan will add tremendous value to Caribbean residents, visitors, and businesses,” said President and CEO of Seaborne Airlines Gary Foss. “We are honored that JetBlue, known for outstanding customer service, would recognize the same that Seaborne employees are providing throughout the Caribbean”, Foss said.

Seaborne, the largest regional operator, and JetBlue, the number one carrier by flights and seats at San Juan Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, offer a combined 50 daily flights that connect 22 destinations. Seaborne will expand the JetBlue network to multiple new destinations, including Anguilla, Dominica, Guadalupe, Martinique, Nevis, St. Kitts, and Tortola. In addition, the Seaborne Airlines network will also provide JetBlue customers’ access to an expanded presence throughout the United States Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic.

“Our codeshare agreement with Seaborne makes traveling to the Caribbean easier than ever, and that’s the way a beach vacation or family visit should feel,” said Scott Laurence, senior vice president airline planning, JetBlue. “Between JetBlue’s leading position as San Juan’s largest and most customer friendly airline, and Seaborne’s extended local reach, this is a win-win partnership for customers and tourism.”

“The Puerto Rico Tourism Company welcomes this new partnership that supports and strengthens our efforts to increase air access to the Island. This new codeshare marketing relationship between Jet Blue and Seaborne facilitates the entrance of more visitors and positively impacts the economic development in the Island”, said Ingrid I. Rivera Rocafort, executive director of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company.

Along with JetBlue, Seaborne operates as a codeshare partner of American Airlines and Air Europa of Spain. Seaborne offers interline connecting agreements with Delta Airlines and United Airlines as well. In aggregate, Seaborne and the carrier’s partners offer non-stop service to 32 destinations in the Americas and Europe from San Juan. Seaborne’s expanding network out of San Juan has helped solidify San Juan’s position as the Caribbean’s largest hub.

About Seaborne Airlines

Seaborne Airlines has been operating in the Caribbean for over 23 years, carrying more than 2.5 million customers safely. With over 1,500 monthly departures to 16 airports, Seaborne serves San Juan’s Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, St. Thomas airport and Seaplane base, St. Croix airport and Seaplane base, Anguilla, Tortola, Dominica, Martinique, Guadeloupe, Saint Martin, St. Kitts, Nevis, La Romana, Punta Cana, and Santo Domingo. All flights operate with two pilots and two engines under Federal Air Regulation Part 121, the strictest code of the US Federal Air Regulation governing air travel.

About JetBlue

JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline™, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 32 million customers a year to 88 cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of 875 daily flights. For more information please visit JetBlue.com.

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.

ST. KITTS And NEVIS: St. Kitts And Nevis Generates $EC 200 Million From Cruise Tourism

Honourable Lindsay Grant

St. Kitts and Nevis has generated about $EC 200 million from cruise tourism alone, while creating 1,293 jobs, according to Minister of Tourism, Honourable Lindsay Grant. Mr. Grant made the disclosure after perusing the latest Economic Contribution to Caribbean Economies Report prepared by the Florida Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA).

The minister further disclosed that St. Kitts and Nevis, based on this report is ranked number 3 in terms of cruise tourist spend per capita above the average of all 35 cruise destinations in this region.


Though happy with these latest results, Mr. Grant is of the view that more must be done to encourage greater spending from cruise tourists visiting St. Kitts and Nevis and used the opportunity while a guest on “Working For You,” the government’s radio programme, to encourage nationals to create attractions for cruise tourists. The cruise lines he said, have been complaining that there is not enough for their passengers to do while on St. Kitts and Nevis.

“It means that people who are sitting down at the side of the road, who are doing other things need to start to think outside the box and think what can I go into that can attract the cruise lines to come to me as a business,” Grant said.

On the matter of available opportunities to serve the cruise tourism industry, the minister also disclosed that there is need for translators to provide translating services in Spanish, German, French and Italian to serve tourists who speak these languages.

“That is also now an avenue for persons who can speak these languages to come forth to the Tourism Authority and Ministry of Tourism to say look, these are the services we can offer because we probably need some at Port Zante and we can point you to various institutions that need them so this is absolutely necessary,” Grant said.

ST KITTS & NEVIS: Head To Nevis In Style

Four Seasons Resort Nevis has launched a new strategic partnership with YU Lounge, offering guests the option to bookend their stay with a private, personalized arrival and departure experience at Robert L Bradshaw Airport in St Kitts.

As soon as guests step off the plane, they will be taken via luxury vehicle directly to the lounge, where they will enjoy drinks and culinary delicacies created by the YU Lounge’s own chef while their luggage, customs, and immigration are taken care of by the lounge’s service team.

The lounge comes equipped with flat-screen TVs, computers, free Wi-Fi, a variety of magazines, and a seating area for guests to enjoy until the formalities are complete, at which point they will board transfer to Port Zante to embark on the Four Seasons’ private launch.

During the 40-minute crossing to the resort’s on-property dock in Nevis, guests can indulge in complimentary local beers, fruit punch, and Four Seasons’ signature rum punch, until they arrive at the resort to find their luggage waiting in their rooms.

“With our new YU Lounge relationship, Four Seasons Resort Nevis guests can enjoy personalized service and unprecedented convenience from the jet way to the fairways,” said Ed Gannon, General Manager of Four Seasons Resort Nevis. “We’re very glad to partner with the YU Lounge to further elevate the guest experience between St. Kitts Airport and Four Seasons Resort Nevis. ”