The Montego Bay-based Sangster International Airport welcomed the inaugural Canada Jetlines flight from Toronto, Canada, on December 9.

This flight, which carried some 85 visitors to the island, is the second inaugural flight to land at the airport so far this month, as the country’s main airport also welcomed a Norse Atlantic Airway flight from the United Kingdom on December 1.

The Canada Jetlines flight is set to arrive at Sangster three times per week.

Regional director for JTB Canada, Angella Bennett, welcomed the visitors and crew members to the island, noting that the flight’s arrival served as a significant milestone for both the airline and the destination.

“Our country is entering into a strong new alliance with one of Canada’s leisure carriers and an affordable airline. Our Minister of Tourism, Hon. Edmund Bartlett, recently announced an ambitious new tourism growth for us, targeting half a million [Canadian] arrivals for 2025.

Canada Jetlines will play an integral part in helping to boost the arrivals from Canada, as the
airline is expected to bring approximately 10,000 travellers to the island this winter,” Bennett said.

She noted that the introduction of the new flight is more than an aircraft taking to the skies; it is a gateway of unlocking “the untold treasures of destinations waiting to be explored”.

“As we embark on this journey, let us recognise the profound impact that the increased connectivity has on the tourism landscape,” Bennett said.

Deputy Mayor of Montego Bay Richard Vernon said that the Second City continues to be a destination of choice for airlines.

“We continue to grow with the airlines, and we want to ensure that we keep it that way. I know that [Canada Jetlines] is a relatively small airline you are developing, and Jamaica has been chosen as one of your destinations. That speaks to the confidence in Jamaica as a destination. This couldn’t have been possible without the hard work of those in the hospitality and tourism industries,” he said.

Meanwhile, Shane Munroe, CEO of MBJ Airports, operators of Sangster, said the new connection between the two cities underscores the demand for travel and opens more opportunities for further cultural exchange and economic prosperity.

“This new route for Canada Jetlines is also a significant boost in our efforts to recover traffic from Toronto to pre-pandemic levels. This additional capacity will provide options for travellers, stimulate tourism and of course contribute to the growth of the economy for both countries,” Munroe outlined.

CEO of Canada Jetlines, Eddie Doyle, said the airline is looking forward to playing its part in increasing the number of Canadian travellers to the island.