Tourism officials celebrate additional American Airlines flight

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Colin James

Antigua and Barbuda is celebrating the start of the peak Winter season with increased capacity from Miami International Airport, a key gateway for the popular Caribbean destination.

This comes as American Airlines has added an additional daily round-trip flight from Miami to the V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua. The new flight launched today, December 19th, effectively doubles the capacity from the gateway.

The increased capacity reflects the almost double-digit growth in visitor numbers for Antigua and Barbuda and is perfectly timed to meet the demands of passengers looking to escape to the beautiful beaches, award-winning properties, and perfect year-round weather the islands are known for.

The additional daily flight departs Miami for Antigua (AA 2487) at 5:55 PM, arriving at 10:12 PM with the return Antigua to Miami (AA 2642) departing at 7:01 AM, arriving at 9:34 AM.

The new flights represent an even greater capacity as they are operated by the larger Boeing 737-MAX8, with a capacity of 172.

Minister of Tourism and Investment,  Charles ‘Max’ Fernandez said: “We are very excited to be doubling our capacity from Miami to our award-winning V.C. Bird International Airport, just in time for our peak season.

“The new flight not only allows Antigua and Barbuda to benefit from more convenient non-stop flight options for the Southeast region, but this new conveniently timed schedule will provide complimentary connections to our key regions including the West Coast, Midwest, Texas and East Coast as well as flights from the international market.”

CEO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority, Colin C. James said, “This welcomed increased capacity is a result of our continued discussions with airline partners on airlift to meet the demands of our visitors. It represents the strength of our relationship with American Airlines and the confidence they have in our destination.

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12 COMMENTS

  1. So who pays for the hundreds of empty seats on CONDOUR, BLUE PANAMARA, and THOMAS COOK.

    These airlines should do like British airways and service another island on the same journey.

    The second flight will just split the same amount of passengers, they will decide if they want the early flight or the late flight.

    The numbers from Miami will not increase because there are two none stop flights. The first flight will have more empty seats or vice versa.
    .THE ANTIGUAN PURSE WILL PAY FOR ALL THESE EMPTY SEATS THEY ARE CREATING IN THE THE NAME OF BRAGGING THAT AIRLIFTS ARE UP….

  2. ANR at the end of next week ask for the stats of the Miami flight for last year this time and compare the the two after the new flight was introduced…. Money down American Airlines chute…..

  3. The have this new flight and if you go to their website, the airfare to Miami still too expensive. It is cheaper to go from here to New York than to Miami

  4. The one Miami flight was normally full to capacity….think of the people it was preventing from choosing Antigua as a destination because of no seats, before the negative comments give it a chance. Antigua is being seen as a place to be in the US, the hotels have stepped up on their Marketing strategies. When you start seeing it on Wheel of Fortune and the Price is Right it peaks people interest watching the show.

  5. AS OLD PEOPLE WOULD SAY YOU PAY DERE FOR PEOPLE COMPANY.

    Simple the government picks up the tab for the empty seats, that way the airlines will keep coming because they are not loosing any money.

    If this arrangement was not in place you would not see daily flights. The thing is in Antigua these things are a secret.

    Check St Vincent and see how much they are paying to have direct service from AA. for the season.

    I have long suggested that Liat enter into a similar arrangement with all it’s destination to allow profitability, that would solve liats problems.

    Too many things are kept from the public……

    • Boy, somebody dig tick in a fu you c…..
      Antigua is not St.Vincent. I have been on that Miami – Antigua flight and it is full even in non-peak season. At times I had to take Jet blue to PR and then to Ft. Lauderdale. Don’t bash for bashing sake.
      With regards to LIAT though, something needs to be done. My idea is to make it a CARICOM institution such as the CCJ, CWI, UWI etc. I don’t know it that brakes any international trade rule, but in that way all CARICOM countries, at least, would have to contribute.

  6. What American needs is competition out of miami. If the rates were more inline antigua would see a larger demand. Why is it that flying from NYC to Antigua passing through Miami is half the cost? It is all due to American having no competition. For the same cost to fly to antigua, visitors can fly to Europe or Asia, and they do.

  7. ANR please check that return flight..not sure it’s correct..
    Leaving ANU 7:01am and arriving in Miami 9:34am????? Are you saying that flight will take approximately two and a half hours just about????

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