American Airlines (AA) will be adding a second weekly service from Miami International Airport (MIA) to Argyle International Airport (SVD), the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Tourism Authority said on Monday.
AA Manager for the Eastern Caribbean Cathy-Ann Joseph confirmed this, an SVGTA press release said.
The flights will commence on Dec. 18, 2019, using an A319 aircraft, which is currently used for the Saturday service.
The additional flights are AA 1427, leaving MIA on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. to SVD and AA 1427 leaving SVD 4:15 p.m. to MIA.
Currently, AA operates AA 1427 leaving MIA on Saturdays at 10:30 to SVD and AA 1427 leaving SVD 4:15 to MIA.
The second service
The Saturday service will now be operated by a 737-800 series aircraft, which will provide an additional eight business class and 24 economy seats, or a total of 16 business class and 144 economy seats.
AA commenced a weekly non-stop service to St. Vincent and the Grenadines on Dec. 15, 2018 operating the Airbus A319, which has a capacity of eight business class seats and 120 economy seats.
Responding to the announcement, CEO of the SVG Tourism Authority, Glen Beache said:
“We are pleased that American Airlines had added a second flight to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, having been very happy with the performance of the Saturday service. It shows that we continue to grow as a tourism destination and the problem of access to our destination by international visitors is being solved by the increasing numbers of non-stop flights to our country.”
This second AA non-stop service to AIA will complement Caribbean Airlines’ weekly Wednesday non-stop service from JFK International, New York and Air Canada Rouge’s weekly Thursday non-stop service from Pearson International, Canada.
Air Canada Rouge will again operate a second weekly non-stop Sunday service for the winter season, commencing Dec. 15, 2019, the SVGTA said.
I would be pleased to see hard data showing that, “we continue to grow as a tourism destination [on the mainland] and the problem of access to our destination by international visitors is being solved by the increasing numbers of non-stop flights to our country.”
So far, there has been no data presented by Beache or others showing that tourism on the mainland has increased significantly because of nonstop access to SVG from Miami, New York, and Toronto.
NDP you see AIA is getting better.
@C Ben-David. The main fact that American Airlines and other Airlines are increasing their air lift to AIA is a very positive things. To have more seats available to the island is a great thing. Even if only Vincentians are coming home from overseas it will help to stimulate economic activity.