Canada Jetlines to link Canada and Jamaica as of Nov. 5
ANN RUPPENSTEIN
Canada Jetlines’ upcoming service launch between Toronto and Montego Bay was celebrated during the recent Jamaica Product Exchange, the premier inbound trade event for Jamaica’s tourism industry. As of Nov. 5, the leisure airline will offer two weekly flights with a configuration of 174 seats on an Airbus A320 aircraft.
“We will be operating twice a week, Saturday, Sunday,” said Sanjay Kopalkar, director of sales and business development at Canada Jetlines, who also hinted at a possible expansion into Kingston. “Starting with two flights a week, increasing to three flights a week by winter and depending on how we progress and getting the new aircraft, which are lined up for the first quarter of 2024, we will definitely look at flying at least five times a week into Jamaica.”
Canada remains Jamaica’s second largest source market for arrivals.
“With Jetlines coming on board, we are expecting a welcome increase in stopover visitors from Canada to take us closer to achieving our committed target of five million visitors and US$5 billion in earnings within five years,” noted Jamaica’s minister of tourism, Edmund Bartlett.
In the coming months, a yet-to-be announced new carrier will also link Kingston and Toronto in December.
“We are eager to contribute to the growth of tourism in Montego Bay by offering convenient and affordable flights, and we are here to encourage more Canadians to discover the wonders of Jamaica, fostering cultural ties as well as sustainable growth for both countries,” Kopalkar added.
Over 235 delegates representing 20 different countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, France, India, Italy, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Mexico, Spain, UK, USA, Uruguay were on location for the event featuring airlines, hoteliers and other industry personnel.
Notably, Bartlett said this fall will see 1.1 million seats to the destination, “the largest we’ve ever had.”
“As we stand, we are about to have the best year in the history of tourism in Jamaica for stopover arrivals, 2023. But more importantly, this is going to be the best year for revenue for earnings for Jamaica in its history and for the first time we’re going to break the US$4 billion dollar mark for earnings from tourism for the people of this beautiful country of Jamaica,” he shared. “In terms of investment, Jamaica’s investment horizon remains strong and bullish. We will be having over the next 10 to 15 years 20,000 new rooms. And next year alone, we’ll be adding 2,000 new rooms for you to sell for us when you go back to your destinations.”
Some of the upcoming openings include the 352-room Hideaway at Royalton Blue Waters, an adults only property set to debut in Montego Bay in late November, the 700-room Hotel Riu Palace Aquarelle, set to debut in summer 2024, as well as the 451-room UNICO 18º77º Hotel Montego Bay, which is slated to open in 2024. Meanwhile a recent opening in Jamaica is the all-new 260-room Sandals Dunn’s River.
