by Brian Major
Last updated: 2:45 PM ET, Wed May 24, 2023
United Airlines will launch year-round service from
Newark Liberty International Airport and Dulles International Airport beginning
in September, Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc. (BTMI) officials
said Wednesday.
United previously offered only seasonal flights between November and April from the New Jersey and Washington airports, said Eusi Skeete, BTMI’s U.S. director.
The first flights were launched in 2021 to support
winter travel for passengers traveling aboard Royal Caribbean International’s
Rhapsody of the Seas, Skeete said.
“Since then, the appeal has grown significantly, with
Barbados continuing to see a distinct rise in visitors from the New Jersey, [Washington]
D.C., Maryland and Virginia areas,” said Skeete.
Skeete said the increases “[demonstrate] the huge demand
for travel to Barbados from key U.S. markets.” BTMI has marketed Barbados travel extensively across the region, he said,
resulting in the increased United flights.
“We take a strategic approach by first identifying key
markets and cities for growth, then build on that interest, speaking directly
to our audiences through targeted marketing,” said Skeete, who added the new flights
are well-timed to attend the Barbados Food and Rum festival, scheduled for Oct.
19 to 22, 2023.
In April, BTMI announced American Airlines will launch an
additional daily flight between Miami International Airport and Barbados’
Grantley Adams International Airport from August 15 through Sept. 5, 2023.
The additional departure will expand American’s Miami-Barbados
flight frequency to three times daily.
Additionally, daily American flights between North Carolina’s
Charlotte Douglas International Airport and Barbados’ Grantley Adams International
Airport will resume on Dec. 21, 2023. The flights will extend through April 3,
2024, excluding Tuesdays and Wednesdays between January 8 and March 4.
Finally, JetBlue recently extended its second daily
flight to Barbados from New York’s John F. Kennedy International
Airport through October. The flight was previously scheduled to end in
September.
BTMI officials say Barbados will recover 90 percent of its
2019 airline seats capacity by the end of the summer season.
“We are continuously identifying growth opportunities to
expand airlift across the U.S. market and are quite optimistic for the prospect
of increased service, particularly as demand for travel to Barbados remains
high,” said Skeete.
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