Caribbean Destinations Prepared for Air Jamaica Flight Cancellations

Tourist boards across the Eastern Caribbean have responded to news of Air Jamaica´s temporary suspension of its flights from New York to Barbados, Grenada and St. Lucia with news of their own on the impact the cancellations will have.

Air Jamaica, which said it would resume the flights April 16, had previously provided 12 flights per week between the U.S. and St. Lucia -- six flights each from New York via Barbados or Grenada and six flights via its Montego Bay hub.

US Airways already announced in February that it is adding a weekly Saturday flight from Charlotte, N.C., in addition to its two weekly flights from Philadelphia, Peter Hilary Modeste, director of tourism for the St. Lucia Tourist Board, was quoted as saying by Travel Weekly magazine.

In addition, Delta reconfirmed an earlier December announcement that it would increase its schedule out of Atlanta from two flights per week to five weekday flights, beginning April 1.

Currently, American has daily service from the U.S. to St. Lucia, and Modeste said that talks are underway with Continental to begin air service.