Non-stop service between JFK and Grand Cayman begins June 23, 2007
New York, New York, USA (March 21, 2007) – The Honourable Charles Clifford, Minister of Tourism, Environment, Investment & Commerce of the Cayman Islands announced today that the national flag carrier, Cayman Airways Ltd (CAL), will begin non-stop service from Grand Cayman to New York on June 23, 2007, subject to regulatory approval.
Cayman Airways will operate the three weekly flights to John F Kennedy International Airport. The flights leave Grand Cayman on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 4:10pm and depart New York at 9am on Thursdays, Sundays and Mondays.
“The start of this route signals the government’s commitment to ensuring the national airline continues to be a driver of the local economy,” said Clifford. “The route addresses the needs of the tourism industry and will be convenient for the financial services industry. The New York area is the single largest source market for the Cayman Islands tourism industry with more than 30 per cent of all United States air arrival visitors coming from the tri-state area. Additionally, New York is the financial capital of the United States and there is significant weekly business traffic between the two points.”
According to CAL CEO, Patrick Strasburger, “Arrival figures show a 95 per cent increase in the number of visitors in 2006 versus 2005 from the Northeast. This is excellent competitive positioning for our airline providing access to a proven travel market for the Cayman Islands.”
Although the Big Apple is enticing, Cayman Airways isn’t going at it alone. “We have developed a comprehensive marketing plan with the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism which will feature television advertising and, working with the on-island hotel partners, we have excellently priced vacation packages,” said Strasburger.
Leading the planning effort on behalf of the private sector is Ms Jean Cohen, vice-president and general manager Ritz Carlton Grand Cayman and the Cayman Islands Tourism Association’s (CITA’s) chairperson for the hotel sector. Cohen welcomes the New York route: “The Northeast USA is critical to the success of the Cayman Islands as a tourist destination. CITA and all of its member hotels are working closely to ensure the success of CAL and this new route.”
These sentiments were echoed by Clifford: “The data clearly indicates how important the Northeast market is to our tourism industry. I commend the board and management of Cayman Airways for responding to this demand with the introduction of the New York route. As we have stated in the past, one of the key roles of our national airline is to support the islands as an engine of economic growth. I am therefore extremely pleased to see the industry come together in this fashion.”
“Moreover, I am confident our local residents will enjoy the convenience of the non-stop service for leisure, cultural and shopping opportunities in the Big Apple,” Clifford continued.
As the national flag carrier of the Cayman Islands, Cayman Airways’ schedule includes non-stop Boeing 737 jet service between Grand Cayman and Boston, Chicago, Houston, Orlando, Tampa, Miami and Ft Lauderdale, and jet service to Cayman Brac, as well as Kingston and Montego Bay, Jamaica and Havana, Cuba. Cayman Airways also operates frequent daily turbo-prop services via Cayman Airways Express between the three Cayman Islands – Grand Cayman, Cayman Brac and Little Cayman.
For additional information, contact your travel agent or Cayman Airways at 1-800-4-CAYMAN. In the Cayman Islands please call (345) 949-2311.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/release was accurate at
press time; however, we suggest you confirm all details and prices
directly with vendors.
HOME | HOTELS | VILLAS | CRUISES | ACTIVITIES | SHOPPING | RESTAURANTS | MAPS | SPECIALS | YELLOW PAGES | NEWS
