TourismToday

Additional airlift from the New York area is on its way to The Bahamas, as JetBlue Airlines is launching a new route from Westchester County Airport, creating around 50 more room nights daily, according to a tourism executive.

Director General of the Ministry of Tourism David Johnson told Guardian Business yesterday that the new JetBlue flight — beginning on November 15 pending government approval — will provide a large boost to arrivals by air. He called the addition of the new route a good move for both sides.

“There have been discussions ongoing in the industry and the decision to introduce the flight from Westchester was a great one,” Johnson said. The Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board has a good relationship with JetBlue, [the route] is located in one of the most affluent areas in New York. The White Plains provides a great profile and it will add deeper penetration in the New York market.”

Johnson added that the proximity of the Westchester County Airport to neighboring state Connecticut will attract another batch of visitors to the country — where no direct flights are offered to Nassau. He mentioned that the aircraft being used is an Embraer E190, which has the capacity to seat 100 passengers.

Minister of Tourism and Aviation Vincent Vanderpool-Wallace said the new route is a testament to the relationship between The Bahamas and JetBlue and he is optimistic of the growth that will come from it.

“”This addition of nonstop service from Westchester to Nassau represents the continuing growth of a most successful partnership between The Bahamas and JetBlue,” Vanderpool-Wallace said.  “We believe that success is owed largely to the wonderful match between JetBlue customers and Bahamas vacationers and we will continue to look for other such opportunities to enable travelers to enjoy the culture, cuisine and the world’s clearest waters of The Bahamas.”

The new service will also represent the first flight from the Westchester County Airport to fly in the Caribbean region, with CEO of the airline Dave Barger excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

“JetBlue is excited to provide our Westchester and Fairfield County customers a simpler and more convenient way to access the Caribbean from their easy-in, easy-out local airport,” Barger said.  “We’re equally as proud to offer the only regularly scheduled non-stop service from Westchester to the Caribbean, and to work with such great partners at the Nassau Paradise Island Board.”

The Westchester route will make it the fifth flight offered in Nassau by JetBlue.  The airline currently has direct services from Nassau to Boston, Fort Lauderdale, New York and Orlando.

By Jammal Smith