The domestic thrust to bring more Canadian tourists to Jamaica has been dealt a severe blow with news that Frontier Airlines is pulling its direct Cleveland to Montego Bay route.

The new service, which was announced last December and launched with much fanfare in March, should come to an end on June 29. However, the route is not being totally abandoned but the new iteration will have a stopover component.

As such, after June 29, all flights between the two locations will include a stopover. A spokesperson for Frontier told Cleveland.com that “the demand has not proven sufficient to continue the route for the full summer season and the last flight will operate on June 29. We will continue to evaluate market conditions going forward.”

Another reason, cited by the Frontier spokesperson is security pointing out that in January this year, the US State Department raised its travel advisory level for Americans travelling to Jamaica to Level 3 urging them to reconsider travelling to the island. 

According to the State Department’s assessment of Jamaica, “violent crimes, such as home invasions, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and homicides, are common. Sexual assaults occur frequently, including at all-inclusive resorts.”

The short life of the route is a setback for the burgeoning Frontier-Cleveland relationship. Earlier this year, the airlines announced 10 new routes from Cleveland Hopkins and increased service on existing routes. 

This came on top of the new crew base the airline is bringing to the city, along with several hundred jobs. Attempts by Cleveland.com, the premier news and information website in the state of Ohio to reach the Frontier communications department have, thus far, proven unsuccessful. 

Flights between St. Louis and Montego Bay also were cancelled, but direct routes from Atlanta and Philadelphia will continue service.