WestJet Launches Toronto-Kingston Service

Canada's leading airline, WestJet, has launched a new service from Toronto into Kingston which is expected to provide a further 6,000 air seats into the island for the summer tourist season. Tourism Minister Dr Wykeham McNeill said this new service will provide additional seats into the island in keeping with his ministry's goal to boost airlift to the destination.

WestJet, which had some 27 flights per week into Montego Bay from Canada at the peak of the winter tourist season which ended last month, plans to fly into the Norman Manley International Airport, in Kingston, three times per week.

Emphasizing the importance of the additional seats to Jamaica at this time, McNeill pointed to Jamaica's 50th anniversary of Independence celebrations, which should see a greater number of Jamaicans coming to the island.

The minister said Jamaica also welcomed visitors who would like to participate in the historic celebrations as well, and additional airlift will help to make this possible. "We expect to see the greatest number of these persons travelling to Jamaica during the summer, which is why this new service is very timely and advantageous" McNeill said.

Vice-President of WestJet Mark Brown said the carrier opted to offer a service to Kingston because the gateway warrants the expansion of its services. "The airline views Kingston as a good gateway (and) my team and I are happy to be coming here," Brown said.

WestJet Airlines Limited is one of Canada's leading passenger airlines offering scheduled service to 71 destinations across North America and the Caribbean. Founded in 1996, the airline is widely recognized for pioneering low-cost air travel in Canada.

On board at Monday's inaugural flight were 10 travel agents and two journalists who will spend a few days in the island touring Kingston and Port Antonio, Portland, as part of the marketing efforts of the Jamaica Tourist Board to highlight the island's tourism offerings to Canadians.