Durrant Pate/Contributor

After some confusion, it has been confirmed that Emirates Airlines will be having weekly flights from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, ST James starting April 10, via a code-sharing deal with Condor Airlines out of Germany.

Code sharing is a widely adopted practice in the aviation industry that allows one airline to market flights operated by another carrier. In this case, Emirates would place its flight code on services operated by Condor, enabling passengers to book seamless travel from DXB to Montego Bay.

This flight marks a historic step as Emirates becomes the first Middle Eastern carrier to serve the English-speaking Caribbean, connecting through Frankfurt Airport (FRA) in Germany. 

Flight arrangement

The Jamaican government supports this move but controversy has been brewing over conflicting statements from the Emirates after an Emirates representative denied official plans, sparking debate. The Jamaican Tourism Ministry announced that Emirates will partner with Condor to operate flights between Dubai (DXB) and Montego Bay (MBJ) with a stop in Frankfurt. 

The service will begin on April 10 and will run until December 26, 2026, using a Boeing 777-300. Flights will operate weekly on Wednesdays, following the route Dubai-Frankfurt-Montego Bay-Frankfurt-Dubai. 

The Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority (JCAA) confirmed this in a March 26, advertisement in The Gleaner, detailing the code-sharing arrangement.

Confusion ignited

Confusion grew when Vivianh Huynh, a senior account executive linked to Emirates, emailed media on March 27, denying any official plans.

With confusion on the matter reigning, Opposition Senator Janice Allen demanded clarity, citing mixed messages. Adding to the uncertainty, Huynh reportedly sent an email to media outlets stating that the airline has “no official plans in place to start flights to Jamaica”.

The email further noted that while Emirates continuously evaluates network expansion opportunities, any official announcements would come through their official channels. When contacted about this contradictory statement, Minister Ed Bartlett suggested that Huynh might not be fully informed about the details of the arrangement between Emirates and Jamaica.

Bartlett, who has been championing the route says it opens doors for Jamaican manufacturers, farmers, and entertainers arguing that this will provide Jamaica with the added boost to multi-destination tourism. In the meantime, the Jamaican government and the JCAA are proceeding confidently with the planned next week’s planned launch.